Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Both Dream Team Ducati Racing’s Larry Pegram and Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert are riding while sick at California Speedway in Fontana, California.

“I have Epstein-Barr Virus,” Pegram said of the illness that has been with him for the last four weeks, including during a test at Laguna Seca in late January. “It’s in the chronic fatigue syndrome family. They took my blood two days ago, and the doctor just called to tell me the results. They say to rest for three months to get over it, but I can’t exactly do that.

“A lot of the motocross guys are getting it. You get it from kissing someone, like mono, but you can carry it around and not be affected by it. It lies dormant until you get too fatigued and then it comes out.”

“I’ve been lying in bed for the past three days doing nothing,” said Gobert, saying he can’t remember exactly what illness his doctor said he had. “I have these sores in the back of my throat, and I feel like I have the flu. I do four laps, and I’m knackered. I feel like I’ve done a moto.”