VR46 has introduced that Andrea Iannone will return to MotoGP for the primary time since 2019, changing Fabio di Giannantonio on this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
The information was made official on Monday morning, as di Giannantonio prepares to bear a surgical procedure on the left shoulder he broke in Austria in mid-August, leaving him out of motion for the final two races of the 12 months.
His substitute Iannone, now 35-years-old, beforehand spent seven seasons competing within the premier class, together with 4 inside the Ducati fold. The spotlight of that stint a sole victory in 2016 on the Crimson Bull Ring, the primary for the Borgo Panigale marque since Casey Stoner’s string of success in 2010.
However in 2019, coincidentally in Malaysia, Iannone examined constructive for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid current on the checklist of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Company.
He was sanctioned with a interval of disqualification of one-and-a-half years, which was later prolonged to 4 years by the Court docket of Arbitration (CAS).
He was using for Aprilia at that time in 2019, having joined the then-struggling Noale marque on a two-year deal.
Andrea Iannone, Workforce Go Eleven
Picture by: Ducati Corse
It wasn’t till the beginning of 2024 that the Italian might make a comeback in skilled bike racing, becoming a member of the satellite tv for pc Go Eleven Ducati group within the World Superbike Championship.
Having impressed on production-based equipment this 12 months with victory in Aragon and eighth-place end within the standings, Iannone has been given an opportunity to return to MotoGP 1814 days after his final look within the collection.
Ducati was contemplating quite a few riders to exchange di Giannantonio, who timed his surgical procedure in a manner that can put him in the absolute best place for pre-season testing in 2025. However VR46, below the decisive affect of group proprietor Valentino Rossi, has taken a extra eye-catching route.
The Italian, who will proceed with Go Eleven in WSBK subsequent 12 months, can also be in competition to trip one among VR46’s GP23 bikes in subsequent month’s Valencia finale.
Iannone is being drafted into the group at a time when di Giannantonio feels he’s performing on the optimum stage, regardless of the injured shoulder.
“It is a bummer to cease now, as I am feeling higher than ever this season, I feel I am at my greatest,” he stated after ending a powerful fourth in Sunday’s wet-weather Thailand Grand Prix.
Di Giannantonio has been one of many revelations of the 12 months and his velocity has been recognised by Ducati, which has signed him on to its manufacturing facility roster for 2025.
He would be the solely rider apart from manufacturing facility group duo Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia to be allowed to run the latest-spec GP25 bike in 2025.
“‘It is essential to be totally recovered for the primary check at Sepang in February, so I will have surgical procedure this week,” stated the 26-year-old. “That manner I’ll meet the deadlines set by the medical doctors.”
