Motorsport: Stoner right to quit, says crew boss

Casey Stoner has received backing from legendary Australian MotoGP crew chief Jerry Burgess to take a break from racing in a bid to solve his mystery illness.

The former world champion is missing three races races while in the middle of a battle for the title with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

But Burgess, who guided both Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi to multiple world crowns, agrees with Stoner that conceding his title hopes this year will pay off ultimately.

Stoner missed last weekend's Brno race in the Czech republic and will also not compete at the next two in Indianapolis and Italy.

He is planning to return at Estoril, Portugal, in early October before competing at his home grand prix at Phillip Island on October 18.

The world championship will now be fought out between Yamaha team-mates Rossi and Lorenzo.

Burgess said it was a wise move by Stoner: "If his situation was not going to improve then to carry on at half strength was pointless.

"He is a guy who wants to be a winner so, if by taking time off he can come back at 100 per cent and win races, then he's going to better off than getting half points in these next few races.

"Many times we see an injured rider goes out and races whereas some extra rest may give him the chance of getting a bag of points rather than half points, so the end result is no different.

"Instead of getting eight at two races he might come back and be third on the podium, which is still 16 points," Burgess said.

Meanwhile the future of Stoner's Ducati teammate, American Nicky Hayden, looks shaky in light of the Italian team's move to try to lure Lorenzo away from Yamaha.

"I heard they've got the cheque book out," Hayden said.

"It would be interesting and it would be a brave move but money talks.

"It seems like Jorge is in a pretty good spot where here is now but I don't know all the ins and outs.

"But I'm sure this Lorenzo deal is on the front-burner."

- AAP