Iannone close to returning to MotoGP with Valentino Rossi’s team: on the track where 5 years ago he was stopped for a “doped steak”

The last time was just at Sepangin 2019, riding an Aprilia. At 35 years old, Andrea Iannone he could return to MotoGP in 2 weeks Malaysiadriving a Ducati of Valentino Rossi’s team. The rider from Vasto seems in all likelihood destined to replace Fabio Di Giannantoniowhich will race tomorrow and after in Australia and next weekend in Thailandbut then he will return to Europe to have shoulder surgery.

I GP at Sepang and Valencia

At this point, who will take the Roman’s place on the GP23 of the Vr46 team in the last 2 GPs of Sepang e Valencia? Names had been mentioned Danilo Petrucci e Niccolò Bulegasomeone had even bet on a sensational and unlikely return of the Doc (at the age of 45, in the midst of his new adventure behind the wheel). Instead, it would have been precisely the champion of Tavullia to ask for a “loan” The Maniac at the top of Ducati: after a 4-year disqualification for doping, Iannone returned to the team this season Superbike with a Panigale V4-R, at the end of September he won Race1 in Aragon, he has just renewed for the whole of 2025 with the Go Eleven team (plus Pata) and today he finished FP2 in 7th place on the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera, where the last race of the season takes place at the weekend. There is nothing official yet, but it is reasonable to think that the negotiation is nearing completion.

The return to where he left off

Iannone celebrated with the Red in 2016 tent path a historic victory that opened the new, extraordinary cycle of Borgo Panigale. For him, the return to Malaysia would have a double special meaning: 5 years ago he surprisingly ended his career in MotoGP right at the end of the race Sepang. He had defended himself – unsuccessfully – from the accusations by claiming to have eaten a “doped” steak in the restaurant of the Sama Sama hotel, right next to the track.