Iannone to make comeback

Andrea Iannone will be making a comeback from a four-year doping ban at this weekend’s Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Iannone has not been seen in MotoGP since 2019 when he was hit with a four-year ban by WADA after losing an appeal and being found guilty for the use of prohibited substance Drostanolone.

Ironically the 35-year-old took the anabolic steroid after the 2019 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Following the development he was disqualified from the final two races of that season in Malaysia and Valencia.

With his ban served, he made his return in the World SuperBike Championship this year with Ducati and finished eighth after a victory at Aragon.

Iannone is returning to MotoGP as a replacement for injured VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is missing the final two races due to left shoulder surgery.

Iannone has 118 starts in the premier class from 2013-2019 across stints with Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia.

His best year was 2015 when he finished fifth in the championship during his maiden campaign with the factory Ducati team.

The following year he took his one MotoGP victory at Austria.

Di Giannantonio, who will be one of just three riders on the latest-spec GP25 Ducati in 2025, is prioritising next year, but was disappointed his “best season” had to be cut short.

“It’s a bummer to stop now, as I’m feeling better than ever this season, I think I’m at my best,” he said.

“It’s very important to be fully recovered for the first test at Sepang in February, so I’m going to have surgery this week.

“That way I will meet the deadlines set by the doctors.”

The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix is the penultimate race of the 2024 MotoGP season.

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