
After missing the last three MotoGP races, 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner will return for this weekend's Estoril race in Portugal.
After suffering from a virus, Stoner returned to Australia to fully recover, telling the press "After five extremely difficult races due to my health, I returned to Australia to visit the sports doctors who have looked after me for many years.
"The doctors believe that during the Barcelona race I was suffering from a virus, and that I subsequently pushed my body too hard, leading to problems that have caused my fatigue since then," added Stoner.
Stoner's return for the race at Estoril will be watched closely by all and sundry to see if the 23-year-old Australian has recovered his strength.
Local fans will be particularly interested to see how he fares in Portugal because two weeks late he will be the hometown hero at the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.
Ducati chief Livio Suppo said he was unsure of how Stoner would place in the Portuguese MotoGP, basically spelling out that the rest of the season would focus on getting his race fitness back and working on the 2010 bike.
Regardless of how Casey Stoner races in the final four MotoGP rounds of 2009, fans will be no doubt be elated to see the world champ back in the saddle for the Estoril.