CASEY STONER has been kicking back in the Australian wilds, even taking to spending a few days in a remote caravan park in Darwin, and says that he feels refreshed and better than he has for along time.
The 2007 MotoGP Champion has been fishing off the Nightcliff and Corroboree Billabong and said: "I feel that I am far better here and have recovered my appetite. We caught a pile of fish, have seen enormous crocodiles and some impressive birds (the feathered variety? - Ed).
"It's been everything that I hoped for while fishing the North end of Australia."
But the Ducati MotoGP rider, who has been sitting out races while recovering from a mystery illness that has left him without energy, says that the medical experts treating him now think that they have a grip on the problem.
He added: "The doctors think that in Barcelona I had the symptoms of a virus and that because of the racing I was just worn out by the end the weekend."
Ducati team director Livio Suppo has still not spoken to the absent Casey Stoner – recuperating at home in Australia – but remains fully confident the ailing Australian will be back as promised for the next round, the Portuguese GP at Estoril.
“I spoke this morning with his father Colin, and he told me that Casey is feeling better.
“I have absolutely no doubt he will be in Estoril.”
Stoner has not been completely incommunicado, according to team-mate Nicky Hayden, who claimed his first rostrum with Ducati at Indianapolis a week ago.
“I had a text from Casey after the race,” he said.
