Stoner on track for return

From motogp.com

Casey Stoner, the 2007 MotoGP World Champion is apparently recovering well from illness in his native Australia ahead of his scheduled return to action at the bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal Oct. 2-4.

The Ducati Marlboro rider missed the visits to Brno, Indianapolis and Misano and returned to his family home in Tamworth, New South Wales, in order to try and fully recover from an illness which first affected him at the Barcelona race in June and which he was subsequently unable to overcome in the quick-fire rounds which followed at Assen, Laguna Seca, Sachsenring and Donington.

Stoner has enjoyed a fishing trip in the sunshine of the Northern Territory, at a place called Top End, where he took in the local wildlife and relaxed with his family. He is reported to be recovering well from the severe fatigue which was hindering him during those aforementioned races.

Several of his MotoGP rivals have wished him a speedy recovery and his team hope to have him back on top form in Portugal in just over three weeks’ time.

Stoner was quoted by newspaper Northern Territory News as saying, “I feel I’m getting better up here, and my appetite has really come back. We caught lots of fish, saw huge crocs and amazing birdlife. It was just like I expected Top End barra fishing to be.”