Ducati says Andrea Iannone’s comeback outing on this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix is a reward for what he missed in MotoGP throughout his four-year ban from competitors.
The Borgo Panigale producer desires Iannone to simply have enjoyable and never put any strain on himself as he joins the VR46 workforce on a GP23 bike at Sepang, substituting for Fabio di Giannantonio at VR46.
As soon as it grew to become clear that 26-year-old Di Giannantonio will likely be skipping the ultimate two races of the 12 months to endure a surgical procedure on the shoulder he broke within the Austrian Grand Prix, each Ducati and VR46 determined that the very best different can be to exchange him with Iannone in Malaysia.
The Italian has a protracted relationship with Ducati, having raced for the marque for 4 seasons between 2013-16 – together with two years on the manufacturing facility workforce alongside Andrea Dovizioso.
He was part of Aprilia’s MotoGP programme in 2019 when he was examined constructive for traces of Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid current on the listing of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Company.
He was subsequently banned from energetic competitors for 4 years and it was solely at the start of 2024 that he might race competitively once more, as he joined the World Superbike Championship with Go Eleven Ducati.
Andrea Iannone, Staff VR46
Picture by: Media VR46
Ducati bosses are conscious that MotoGP has modified rather a lot since Iannone final raced within the premier class and wish the one-time grand prix winner to not take issues critically as he groups up with Marco Bezzecchi at Valentino Rossi’s squad.
“What we ask of Andrea is that he has enjoyable,” Ducati CEO Gigi Dall’Igna advised Motorsport.com. “By way of efficiency, we won’t ask something of somebody who hasn’t been on a grand prix bike for therefore lengthy, with the tyres so totally different to what he is aware of, and with out having accomplished a check.
“This should be a reward for every little thing he hasn’t been capable of do in the previous couple of years.”
Mauro Grassilli, Ducati’s sporting director, added: “We consider he can placed on a present.”
VR46 workforce supervisor Pablo Nieto echoed the feedback of Ducati’s administration, saying that the workforce can’t count on him to be on par with rivals on account of a scarcity of expertise on up to date MotoGP equipment.
Nevertheless, Nieto added that there aren’t any doubts about simply how gifted the 35-year-old is, having scored 5 podiums and a victory in WSBK this 12 months regardless of being on a satellite tv for pc bike.
Andrea Iannone, Staff Go Eleven
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
“What we hope is that Andrea enjoys it. On the similar time, we all know it will likely be difficult for him, as a result of he hasn’t accomplished any earlier testing,” stated Neito.
“We all know that he has an unbelievable expertise, he has already proven prior to now that he’s a really quick rider.”
Though Di Giannantonio is because of miss the ultimate two rounds of the season, the assertion asserting Iannone’s return made it clear that he will likely be using for VR46 on the Malaysia GP solely.
Motorsport.com understands that Ducati’s check rider Michele Pirro will step in at VR46 on the remaining race of the season, the venue for which stays doubtful following extreme flooding in Valencia.