Portuguese MotoGP, Estoril
Date: 3-4 October
Saturday 3 October: Qualifying: 1250-1600, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 4 October: 250cc race: 1105-1205, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1230-1400, BBC One/online, MotoGP Extra 1400-1430, Red Button/online, 125cc race: 1430-1530 BBC Red Button/online

Stoner trailed in 14th in the British Grand Prix after a poor tyre choice

Former world champion Casey Stoner will return to action at this weekend's Portuguese MotoGP after missing three races with a mystery illness.

The Ducati rider has spent the past two months in Australia undergoing tests after complaining of exhaustion.

While the tests were inconclusive, the results showed he was suffering from low blood pressure and lack of sodium.

"I'm looking forward to getting back and to starting work on the bike, looking towards the future," he said.

The 25-year-old Australian has previously suffered inflammation of the stomach lining and anaemia.

Doctors believe this may have been caused by overtraining and the after-effects of injuries and surgery over the last few years.

606: DEBATE The championship is now effectively gone for him and he's likely to be wanting to prove that he is the man at Ducati wyno70

"We are really pleased that Casey is back with us. We never had any doubt that he would be with us once again at Estoril," Stoner's Ducati team said in a statement.

"We know that he is still not in 100% peak fitness and we just hope that over the last four races of the season he can gradually build his strength."

Stoner briefly led this year's championship standings after winning two of the first five races and was running third when he was forced to take a break.

He has since slipped back to fourth place, 87 points behind championship leader Valentino Rossi with a maximum 100 points available over the remainder of the season.

"The doctors have put me on some salt tablets to increase my sodium levels but we will have to see if it helps. We will understand more during the weekend," Stoner said.

"Of course it's going to be difficult. At first we won't know if it will work because I've been off the bike so long that in any case my muscles will take some time to get race fit again."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version