words: Todd Sutherland
Factory Ducati and title contender Casey Stoner has announced that he will not be riding in the next three Grands Prix. Stoner has suffered from a mystery virus and is confident that a full rest period will aid a healthy return.
A game of musical chairs will see Mika Kallio on Stoner's bike, with World Superbike Ducati pilot, Michel Fabrizio landing on Kallio's Pramac Ducati.
Don't hold your breath for any results though. Stoner has long been the only rider (ironically since Capirossi was sacked two seasons ago) capable of running at the front on the Italian marque.
Kallio is the top Ducati rider in the Pramac team, sitting in 15th place in the championship. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac's other rider, is the only other full time championship rider with less points in the championship. In fact if you add Nicky Hayden's (the other works Ducati rider) championship points to the other two Ducati riders totals, you'll find an unwell Stoner still has 40 points more than the trio combined, by himself!
Let's hope that Fabrizio's recent racing at this weekends Brno circuit (he podiumed in the second race, at the World Superbike round, mid July) will give Ducati some kind of result in Stoner's absence.
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