Casey Stoner admits diet worry

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has admitted that sticking religiously to a diet free from lactose is proving a tough challenge ahead of the new premier class campaign.   

Stoner was diagnosed lactose intolerant after his 2009 MotoGP challenge was severely disrupted by a mid-season chronic fatigue issue.

The problem got so severe that the Australian rider, who dominated the 2007 world championship for Ducati, missed three races at a crucial stage of the season.

The 24-year now has to ensure he eats a lactose free diet, a complicated challenge when he is continually travelling the globe to race.

Asked whether sticking to the diet had affected him during the winter testing campaign, he said: “It does affect me a lot. It’s hard to find things that have no lactose in it when you’re travelling. You can go to a restaurant and ask if there’s any lactose in it and they say no.

“But three or four days later I’ll start getting tired so I know there was lactose in it. It’s been very complicated and we need a bit more experience for the travelling. I might have to start taking some stuff with me. It is going to play havoc with us but during the European season we should be able to keep it under control.”

Stoner ended the pre-season campaign on a high note last week when he defeated Yamaha rival Valentino Rossi at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.