VR46 Racing has confirmed Andrea Iannone’s return to MotoGP to serve as a replacement for Fabio Di Giannantonio in this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
After a lengthy absence from the sport due to a four-year doping ban, the Italian rider is set to race for the Valentino Rossi-owned VR46 Racing Team at the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix.
This marks his first appearance in the premier motorcycle racing class since 2019, when he last competed in the premier bike racing series under the Aprilia banner. His comeback is not only a personal triumph but also a compelling narrative in the world of motorsport, highlighting themes of resilience and redemption.
Andrea Iannone’s return to MotoGP has been fraught with challenges after he was banned from the sport after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone following the 2019 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Initially handed an 18-month suspension, his penalty was unfortunately extended to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Throughout the tumultuous period, Iannone maintained his innocence, claiming that his positive test was due to contaminated meat.
Despite the setback, he returned to competitive racing this year in the World Superbike Championship by joining the satellite Go Eleven Ducati team, where he demonstrated his capabilities by securing a race win in Aragon and an eighth-place finish in the standings.
The announcement of Andrea Iannone’s return to MotoGP came after VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio sustained a serious shoulder injury during the Austrian Grand Prix. Di Giannantonio opted to undergo surgery and subsequently ended his season early, paving the way for Iannone to step in as his replacement.
Valentino Rossi himself reached out personally to offer him this chance, underscoring their longstanding friendship.
As Iannone prepares for his return at Sepang, he has expressed both excitement and trepidation about racing again in MotoGP. He acknowledged that it has been years since he last rode a bike in this category and that many technological advancements have occurred during his absence.
“Riding the world champion bike is exciting,” Iannone stated, emphasizing his eagerness to embrace this new challenge
“MotoGP is the most technological and high-performance bike, I’m honoured that they thought of me and I felt like I had to say yes to this opportunity immediately as soon as it was offered to me.
“The challenge is certainly crazy, complex and demanding, as I haven’t ridden a bike in this category for years and without having done tests or similar.
“I’m excited to be able to work with Ducati and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, both for the very high level and for the friendship since years.
“I thank Valentino Rossi, Alessio Salucci, Pablo Nieto, Gigi Dall’Igna, Claudio Domenicali and Mauro Grassilli.”
The support from VR46 Racing has been instrumental in facilitating Andrea Iannone’s return to MotoGP. Team director Alessio Salucci highlighted his strong connection with Ducati and the VR46 family, noting that he has always remained close to the team despite his absence from the sport.
“I am very happy to confirm that Andrea will race with our colours on the Ducati Desmosedici GP,” Salucci said. “First of all, Andrea has shown to be in great shape, he closed the WorldSBK season on a high and has always remained close to Ducati.
“He is a great friend of the VR46 family, both mine and Vale’s. We are very happy to welcome him to the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team and to see him back on a MotoGP bike.
“It’s a really great story! At the same time, we all wish Fabio the best of luck as he will undergo shoulder surgery this week and we can’t wait to see him back on track in 2025.”
As Iannone gears up for the Malaysian Grand Prix, he is also looking ahead to the Valencia GP later in November. While VR46 has yet to confirm whether he will continue racing at Valencia, there is palpable excitement surrounding his potential participation.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue to Andrea Iannone’s return to MotoGP is also the prospect of seeing him compete on a Ducati Desmosedici GP23—one of the most competitive bikes on the grid— as he goes up against seasoned riders on the grid.
