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Australian MotoGP star Casey Stoner is to undergo a tests after finishing fourth “in a daze” in the US Grand Prix.
Stoner, who has fought a mystery illness for weeks, drifted from second to just miss a podium as Spaniard Dani Pedrosa scored a flag-to-flag win for Honda at California’s Laguna Seca circuit on Monday (AEST).
Pedrosa held off a fast-finishing Valentino Rossi – who stretched his 2009 season points lead with second – while Jorge Lorenzo of Spain took third despite painful shoulder and foot injuries.
Stoner remained in the championship hunt as he battled his health and concentration problems.
The 2007 world champion has been combating physical exhaustion which was compounded by competing for a second week in a row.
Stoner will now stay on in the United States for extensive tests at the Fremont Surgery Center with Dr Arthur Ting and Dr Tuan, to try to understand the source of his on-going stomach complaint.
“It has been a weekend to forget,” he said.
“I can’t be happy with fourth place even if it has limited the damage to my championship chances.
“Today I didn’t feel as bad at the end of the race as I have done in the last two but I’m still not right.
“I found it really difficult to keep my concentration over the last few laps and I was in a bit of a daze by the end.
“My left arm was feeling really tired by the end because of the fact there are so many left-handers here and my left wrist still doesn’t have the full range of movement after my operation in the winter.
“I’m really disappointed because without all of these problems we could have done so much better,” he said.
“I want to thank the team for giving me a great bike and also Doctor Claudio Macchiagodena and our physiotherapist Freddie (Dente) for all their help.
“Now we’ll focus on trying to find out the root of the problem because racing in this condition is not much fun.”
Pedrosa had failed to finish two of his past three races and has struggled all year with a series of injuries.
“It’s been a long, tough year for me. I’m happy to be back and win a race,” Pedrosa said.
He grabbed the lead at the start from fourth spot on the grid and built up a three second edge until the final lap when Rossi nearly overtook him on the last turn.
“Perhaps the only mistake was on the last lap when I was too slow,” Pedrosa said. “I thought I had more of an advantage.”
Rossi, who was chasing his third straight win, said: “I didn’t expect Dani to be so strong today. I was pushing a lot on the final lap and I saw Dani slow down. I got close, but not close enough.”
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