Next season Andrea Iannone will be riding for the GoEleven Ducati squad replacing Philipp Oettl.
Andrea Iannone is set to make a long-anticipated comeback to elite bike racing after reaching an agreement to join the GoEleven Ducati squad in the World Superbike Championship in 2024.
Iannone distinguished himself in premier bike racing after signing with Pramac Racing for the 2013 MotoGP season. Later, in 2015, he would join the factory squad and place fifth in the standings before switching to Suzuki. Iannone remained at Suzuki for two more years before switching to Aprilia in 2019.
Andrea Iannone participated in his final MotoGP season and placed 16th while riding an Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. He had an up-and-down season with his best being a sixth place finish in Australia.
However, the Italian was ruled out of both the Malaysian and Valencian Grand Prix after he was handed an 18-month suspension from competitive bike racing.
He was found to be guilty of breaking the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules after he was found to be using the illegal drug drostanolone. Iannone claimed that the discrepancy was brought on by eating tainted meat.
Bradley Smith took Iannone’s place while he challenged the ruling. Iannone lost his appeal and received a four-year suspension on November 10, 2020 with the ban therefore concluding at the end of the 2023 season.
Iannone focused on getting a place in the WSBK paddock even though a MotoGP spot was available because Ducati was eager to have him back among its riders.
Following that, it was revealed on Wednesday that he will replace former Moto2 racer Philipp Ottl, who has raced for the team the past two seasons, in the Ducati satellite squad GoEleven for the upcoming season.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m finally back on track, where I spent my life,” Iannone said.
“I thank Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Claudio Domenicali, Marco Zambenedetti and the whole GoEleven team for their trust; with their support, I have rediscovered the enthusiasm I had as a child.
“Special thanks also to the WorldSBK family for the opportunity. I’m fully excited.”
In the Team rankings, Team GoEleven currently sits in 10th, just behind Bonovo Action BMW. Philipp Oettl, the only GoEleven rider this year, is currently fifteenth in the rankings after having a steady year so far. The German achieved his best performance of the year in Australia’s opening round.
