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'Quickly went downhill': Aussie MotoGP great reveals shock diagnosis

Australian two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is pictured.
Australian two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has revealed he has been diagnoses with chronic fatigue syndrome. Picture: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/GettyImages

Australian motorsport great Casey Stoner has revealed he has been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an eye-opening interview with Channel Nine.

Stoner, a two-time Moto GP world champion who won in 2007 and 2011, won 38 races from 115 starts in a top-flight career that spanned six years.

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Since his 2012 retirement from MotoGP, Stoner bounced around between various other motorcycling commitments as well as a cameo in Supercars sub-category the Dunlop Super 2 series.

The 35-year-old’s final stint as a test rider for Ducati wrapped up in 2017.

Speaking to the TODAY show, Stoner said he first began feeling symptoms of the syndrome, for which there is no cure, in 2018.

“I very quickly went downhill and started to get some extreme symptoms and struggled to get out of bed and get to the couch,” he said.

“Because people can't see it, it's not a physical element that people can see, so people aren't taking it as serious.

“They all just go, 'you're a bit tired, get up'.

“Currently we have no cure. We don't have enough information on things that can help.

“The amount of positive feedback I've had since coming out and telling the public that I have ME/CFS - it's nice to know people are out there willing to help recognise and understand the situation isn't good for people.

“I hope other people out in the world can get support and this is what we're doing.”

Casey Stoner is pictured after winning the Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island in 2012. (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Casey Stoner is pictured after winning the Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island in 2012. (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Rins sees off Marquez to win Aragon MotoGP

Suzuki's Alex Rins held off a spirited challenge from Honda rookie Alex Marquez to claim his first victory of the season at the Aragon Grand Prix in Spain on Sunday.

Rins' teammate Joan Mir finished third to take a six-point lead at the top of the championship ahead of Fabio Quartararo, who started at the top of the grid but finished a disappointing 18th for Yamaha.

Starting 10th on the grid, Rins stormed out of the blocks to move up to fourth on the opening lap before moving past Yamaha's early pace-setter Maverick Vinales to take the lead on lap eight.

Marquez, fresh off his maiden MotoGP podium finish in France last weekend, climbed up nine spots and tested Rins in the final five laps, but the Suzuki rider held his nerve to seal victory on home soil.

“I had to make sure I didn't break the rear tyre and also manage the distance from Marquez in the end,” said Rins, who moved up to seventh in the championship.

“It's amazing, this victory is for all the fans who visit from all the towns around here.”

With AAP

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