until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Ex-MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone is due to make his return to international motorcycling competition next year, at the conclusion of his doping ban.
Iannone, who turned 34 last month, will take on the World Superbike series with a satellite Ducati Panigale V4 R.
This has been confirmed by Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna in an interview with MotoGP/World Superbike promoter Dorna during MotoGP’s Catalan Grand Prix weekend.
Iannone was a Ducati rider for four seasons in MotoGP, ending its half-decade victory drought in 2016 – but ultimately being replaced for the following year by the incoming Jorge Lorenzo as Ducati elected to drop Iannone and keep Andrea Dovizioso.
“Andrea was an important rider for Ducati,” said Dall’Igna.
“When I joined Ducati [in 2013], the first victory that we caught was with him, in Austria in 2016.
“So, I remember him very well, he has for sure a big heart and he tried to do the best all the time, this is something I have to respect.
“I’m really happy he will join again – not our team but one of our satellite teams. I would like to say good luck to him for his comeback.”
Iannone had spent two largely underwhelming years at Suzuki after his Ducati exit, before linking up with Aprilia – but what was supposed to be at least a two-year stint ended after one thanks to Iannone testing positive for banned substance drostanolone.
His appeal failed to such an extent that his ban, initially set at 18-month, was extended to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Dall’Igna did not specify which team Iannone is to be racing for in 2024, but it was widely reported in Italian media that he was likely to ride for GoEleven Ducati – which currently employs sometime Moto3 race winner Philipp Oettl, 15th in the standings.
“For sure he’ll need some time to come back at his full potential,” said Dall’Igna, who hinted any plan to ease Iannone back into competitive action over the remainder of 2023 may be complicated by the fact his ban is still ongoing.
“But anyway he has a lot of talent, he has a big heart, and I expect that even during ’24 he can catch some results.”
