An Aussie footballer struggled with EB. And AMA Superbike rider Mat Mladin had it mid-season 2003 and pulled out of the second Superbike race at Laguna after ten laps. The diagnosis came a month later. He suffered through the extreme fatigue and still won the championship.

First thing after this race Stoner is going to be tested and wait for results. He hopes for answers sooner rather than later. About the only thing one can do with Epstein-Barr is rest. Stoner said the Australian doctor talked of replacing balance. "If my body is low in something, then it's replaced.

"I don't see how much more rest will help me in the race. I have to keep going. In Assen, I was buggered after the race, but not too bad. Then it hit all of a sudden and I had to throw up. I have to try and survive this weekend, and see if I can keep up my energy.

"The last few races it's been Rossi, Lorenzo and myself on the podium, and I'd like to change the direction of the podium a bit."

The next best Ducati on Friday was Stoner's team-mate Nicky Hayden, in 14th.

Additional reporting by Lynne Huntting.