LI Celeb Alert: Casey Stoner

Australian motorcycle racing champ Casey Stoner was thrown by a severe case of lactose intolerance last year.

Casey Stoner is confident that having overcome the illness that ruined his championship bid in 2009 he is now primed for glory this season.

The Australian had looked in good shape early last year after winning two of the first five races.

But a mysterious debilitating illness, which left him “completely destroyed after three or four laps” struck and sidelined him for three races. He recovered and won again before the end of the year and he expects more of the same now.

“I am feeling better than I have in years so am really looking forward to this year. We are going out to win the championship like everyone else.”

Stoner, 24, discovered his ailment last year had been due to being lactose intolerance, but he returned with a second place in Portugal and then back-to-back wins in Australia and Malaysia to finish fourth in the standings.

After going completely off lactose, he became strong enough to finish races. And win them.