Motorcycling-Stoner to miss next three MotoGP races say Ducati

MADRID Aug 10 (Reuters) - Australian Casey Stoner will miss the next three MotoGP races to give him the chance to get back to full fitness, Ducati team director Livio Suppo said on Monday.

"He isn't well and the best thing for him is to stop, mainly to prevent the problem getting any worse," Suppo told Spanish state television, without giving any details of the 23-year-old's condition.

"It has been a very difficult decision that we took with the whole team. We are very disappointed, but it is the best for him," Suppo added.

Finnish rider Mika Kallio from the Pramac Racing team will be his temporary replacement, Suppo said.

Stoner, the 2007 world champion, will miss the Czech, Indianapolis and San Marino MotoGPs. He is third in the rankings behind leader Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

(Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Kevin Fylan. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)