Andrea Iannone began his preparation for his debut in the World Superbike Championship in 2024 this week with the two days of testing in Jerez. It was his first contact with a racing bike nearly four years after being suspended, and upon his return, despite the fatigue, he didn’t forget to have fun.

The Italian rider from Team GoEleven revealed to GPOne.com that he was even at a higher level than expected: ‘I had a lot of fun on Wednesday, the sensations with the bike are good, as well as with the tyres. That’s the important thing; for sure, I need to improve in some areas, but we also have time for that. We started at a very good level, and I didn’t expect this at all; I expected worse. Fortunately, we are ahead; I don’t think anyone expected that’.

Despite the good start and its significance, Iannone doesn’t get carried away with excessive enthusiasm: ‘You have to keep your feet on the ground; that’s normal. You can’t think that there’s no work to be done, that you’ve arrived. You have to stay humble and work, but the starting point is important. It was essential to have felt this way, and I have to say I’m happy. An important day in many ways. […]. I have to be aware of everything that is needed, but I also want to enjoy this day and this return. It’s important that I didn’t take anything for granted; it’s really meaningful for me’.

O conteúdo ‘We started at a very good level; I expected worse’ – Andrea Iannone aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Andrea Iannone finally returned to race tracks after about four years by participating in World Superbike Championship testing in Jerez this week. The rider posted convincing lap times, but the transition to the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the return to competitive racing was not an easy task.

The Italian rider admitted to GPOne.com that he was particularly exhausted during this initial contact with WSBK: ‘I’m destroyed. I haven’t ridden a racing bike for several years, and even though I’ve trained over the years on production bikes, it’s different. On the track, you encounter amateur people who ride for fun, and it’s complex for a rider to train properly, have a free track. But I always trained at my maximum, but it’s not enough for WSBK or MotoGP. They are different bikes, of course. But there is a lot of power in both, and braking is always difficult, and I had some problems with my arms, but that’s normal. I’m happy’.

The physical aspect was the biggest challenge for Iannone during these tests, as he stated: ‘I struggled physically because there are muscles that you only use with a race bike. So, I arrived at 14:00 [on Wednesday], and I had done the most laps. My arms were tired, and I had difficulties with acceleration. This affected performance a bit, but I know it’s something I need to work on at home. I tried to get the best out of it, and I believe it would have been difficult to do more than this’.

O conteúdo Andrea Iannone ‘destroyed’ after two days of WSBK testing aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Andrea Iannone finally returned to the tracks this Tuesday on the first day of testing for the World Superbike Championship in Jerez.

After a four-year suspension, the Italian rider is preparing for his debut in the 2024 season with Team GoEleven. At the Andalusian circuit, he had the opportunity to start getting to know the Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Take a look at some of the images of Iannone in action on the opening day of the Jerez tests.

O conteúdo Video: The day Andrea Iannone returned to the tracks aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After a four-year suspension, Andrea Iannone is set to return to competition in the 2024 World Superbike Championship. The first step in his preparation took place on Tuesday, the opening day of testing in Jerez.

The Team GoEleven rider had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Ducati Panigale V4 R, finishing the day with the 11th best lap time. He did not take to the track in the afternoon due to rainy conditions.

Speaking to the championship’s official website, Iannone said: ‘I’m really happy. I exited the pitlane to ride a race bike and this is a really good feeling for me. Unfortunately for the weather today but, in any case, I felt very comfortable with everybody, in the paddock and especially in the team. Here in the garage, the feeling is really good. I think today is a little bit of everything, a bit confusing! After a long time, I’ve come back and the feeling with the bike is really good. At Jerez, on the first lap, I thought: «Wow, one more time I’m at this track!». The first five laps were just fun’.

For now, plans for the next tests are not yet defined, but Iannone prefers to focus on the present: ‘The most important thing right now is that we are here, and we have the possibility to ride. This is the best feeling ever’.

O conteúdo Andrea Iannone back on a race bike ‘This is the best feeling ever’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

In the upcoming season, Andrea Iannone will compete in the World Superbike Championship. This marks his return to the track after a four-year suspension due to a controversial doping case.

In a press release, the Italian rider, who will represent Team GoEleven on a Ducati, expressed his gratitude to the team and the manufacturer from Borgo Panigale. He emphasized that he has regained his enthusiasm for motorcycling:

– I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m finally back on track, where I spent my life. I thank Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Claudio Domenicali, Marco Zambenedetti and the whole Go Eleven 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.

O conteúdo ‘I have rediscovered the enthusiasm I has as a child’ – Andrea Iannone aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Andrea Iannone is set to make his return to competition next year, following the completion of a four-year suspension due to a doping case. The rider will compete in the World Superbike Championship on a Ducati for Team GoEleven. The contract is valid for one season, featuring an option to renew for 2025.

The announcement came this Wednesday. The 34-year-old Italian was never a world champion in the 125cc or Moto2 classes but entered MotoGP in 2013. He raced for the factory teams of Ducati, Suzuki, and Aprilia, but at the end of 2019, his career was put on hold due to a controversial positive doping test, which he has always claimed was due to consuming contaminated meat.

Now, Iannone will have the opportunity to resume his journey in motorcycling. After four years of absence, the challenge won’t be easy, but he has remained active by training on various types of motorcycles. In WSBK, The Maniac will be riding the Ducati Panigale V4 R, which is one of the most competitive bikes currently in the series.

O conteúdo Official: Andrea Iannone in WSBK in 2024 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.