Andrea Iannone Back in MotoGP: Strong Start at Sepang

Andrea Iannone is making a strong return at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia after a five-year absence from MotoGP. Filling in for the injured Fabio di Giannantonio of Pertamina Enduro VR46, Iannone quickly made an impression in Sepang by clocking the ninth-fastest time in the morning practice on November 1. Currently racing full-time in the World Superbike Championship, the 35-year-old Italian seemed thrilled to be back on a MotoGP bike.

He praised the Ducati’s improvements since his last stint in 2019, noting that it feels more stable and easier to control. “The bike is really easy to handle now, more stable and less jittery,” Iannone, nicknamed “The Maniac,” said. He added that the machine holds its line better in corners and has fewer handling issues during acceleration which is a clear improvement over the Ducati’s behavior five years ago.

Despite limited track time, Andrea Iannone was able to complete about 25 laps, bringing himself within 1.9 seconds of current MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia. He acknowledged that this wasn’t enough to fully explore the Ducati’s limits but he was satisfied with his pace.

Iannone’s return to MotoGP is significant after his four-year suspension for a doping violation in 2019 which ended his previous run in the premier class. His performance in Malaysia has already caught the attention of fans and teams, hinting that he may still have a competitive edge at this level.