Stoner facing key fitness test

Stoner facing key fitness test

Australian Grand Prix champion Casey Stoner faces a critical fitness test in the draining heat of Malaysia at this weekend's penultimate MotoGP round.

Stoner staggered his rivals and critics by winning last Sunday's Australian race at Phillip Island - a feat which followed his second place on return from illness in Portugal.

But doubts over the fatigue problem which has dogged him for most of the year persist and are likely to be exposed at Sepang.

Stoner out-duelled world champion Valentino Rossi last weekend but was aided by the cool conditions.

The oppressive heat in Kuala Lumpur is likely to prove whether there are any residual effects from his energy-sapping complaint, which left him exhausted near the end of races.

"In the past I used to like racing in the heat but last year in Malaysia I was racing with a wrist injury and I've had the physical problems everybody knows about," Stoner said.

"I suppose it's a combination of factors that I have suffered with in recent hot races.
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"But at Phillip Island things went so well from a physical point of view that I feel reasonably confident.

"It will definitely be a tough race as being fast and consistent in those conditions is always difficult regardless.

"It is not easy to find the perfect set-up here but that's always been the case and with every day that passes I feel stronger and more confident that I can be competitive in both of the two races that remain.

"The track has become a little boring for me I suppose you could say just because we have done so many laps here in testing but the races are usually fun and I like the place."

Ducati boss Livio Suppo admits the Malaysian race could be a vital pointer to Stoner's fitness for next year's championship.

"We're coming on the back of a really positive grand prix for us in which Casey was able to ride as he knows and as he likes, and most importantly having fun," Suppo said.

"Even though he was lacking a little grip the bike was very competitive and Casey made the most of it to put on a real show.

"In Malaysia we're going to come up against temperatures that are very different to Phillip Island and it will be another test of his condition.

"At the moment he prefers cool conditions but in the past the heat has never bothered him and in fact in 2007 he won."

Stoner is third in the title standings but out of contention as Rossi seeks to seal a seventh championship on Sunday.

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