MotoGP legend Casey Stoner has opened up about his battle with chronic fatigue syndrome which left him couch-ridden for months.
The Australian two-time motorbike racing world champion made a surprise appearance at the Algarve Grand Prix in Portugal on Saturday.
It was the first time Stoner, 36, was seen at the race track in three-and-a-half-years since his illness forced him to give up his testing role with Ducati and walk away from the sport.
An emotional Stoner held a press conference at the Algarve Grand Prix, where he admitted he has 'struggled massively' with his health since being diagnosed in 2018.
Two time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner (pictured right with his family) has opened up about his harrowing battle with chronic fatigue syndrome in recent years
'I got to the point where I couldn't get off the couch basically for five months,' 38-time race winner said.
'From bed to the couch was my exercise for the day. I couldn't explain anything, we couldn't understand anything.
'Mentally I was struggling. Physically, massively.'
Stoner spent the past four years trying to manage his battle and learning how to conserve energy during the day.
'I've been learning what hurts me long term versus what not necessarily makes me better, but reduces the effect of my issue,' the father-of-two said.
'The end of last year I started feeling a little better in December, January. I thought maybe I'm not coming out of it but I can manage this now.
'But then I hit March, April and went backwards again. I'm a little less optimistic with things at the moment. I just kind of go day by day how I feel.
'Sometimes I'm extremely exhausted and just cannot explain it, and then other days I'm a little better.
'I'm basically never more than 60 per cent of my usual self. I've had to learn to walk everywhere, which I hate. I always used to jog just about everywhere but now I have to walk.
'It's just about conserving energy and getting through each day.'
Casey Stoner (pictured) became emotional while explaining his three-and-a-half-year absence from the race track
Casey Stoney (left) has made his first appearance at the track at the Algarve Grand Prix in Portugal this weekend. his pictured with former arch rival Valentino Rossi (right)
He admitted his absence from the track had been too long.
'It's been three-and-a-half years I believe. This was my whole world for a lot of years. We knew everyone,' Stoner said.
'A lot of people in this paddock are family and friends. We've missed everyone, to be honest.'
He later shared photos posing with the Ducati team supporting Australian rider Jack Miller.
He shared a photo catching
