The Maniac is back!
Iannone re-launches his career with an incredible maiden podium ‘I think that Barcelona could be even better’
When the 2023 World Superbike season ended in Jerez last October, nobody would have predicted that the first rider into the first corner of the next season would be Andrea Iannone. Yet that’s exactly what happened when the Italian newcomer, a former MotoGP race winner, shot off the line and propelled his canary yellow GoEleven Ducati into the lead of Saturday’s Race 1. He went on to finish third, backing that up with fourth place in Sunday’s Race 2.
Had it not been for a handlebar grip problem in the Sprint Race, which dropped him to 14th, Iannone could easily have come away from Australia with a trio of top five finishes. Not bad for a man who, at the end of 2019, received a four-year ban from racing’s governing body, the FIM, for using illegal substances. With his career having been handed a lifeline by Ducati, the 34-year-old from Vasto on the Adriatic coast of Italy goes down in history as the 35th rider to have claimed at least one rostrum finish in World Superbike as well as the premier class of Grand Prix racing (500cc/MotoGP).
Some will say Iannone should never have been allowed back into racing, although the grand majority conclude that he’s served his punishment and that everybody should move on. Whatever your opinion, there’s no doubt he’s a headline-maker and his instant
WSBK success is nothing but good news for the series – especially in Italy where he holds celebrity status outside of the sporting world courtesy of his relationship with popstar Elodie. World Superbike has become synonymous over the years for the rekindling of careers; even since the turn of the 2010s the championship had seen Carlos Checa, Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli all claim WSBK titles as former Grand Prix stars. Could Iannone join that list?
“There is so much positive energy,” Iannone declared, having qualified on the front row at his first attempt just as Dominique Aegerter did for GRT Yamaha last season.
“The podium in Race 1 was such a special moment, I just couldn’t believe it. In Race 2, I lost all grip as the temperature decreased so there wasn’t much feeling. I’m 70% happy with the weekend and it’s been an incredible comeback. We just need to keep pushing – I think that Barcelona could be even better. All of the newspapers in Italy seem to be very interested – that’s the best way to come back!
“Thank you to everybody: Ducati, my team, all of my fans, World Superbike. Everybody.”
In Eurosport TV commentary, double World Champion James Toseland was extremely complimentary about Iannone’s debut. His only minor criticism came shortly after going off air and was related to stamina. “There will have been some really, really dark times for Iannone over the last four years,” Toseland said. “A four-year ban could take away half of your career; you’re lucky to get ten years as a professional. His match fitness wasn’t quite up to scratch, he was losing a bit of ground in the final race. But to have two rookies, Nicolo Bulega and Adrea Iannone on the podium was fantastic.”