MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

After a week of rumors, the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team have finally confirmed that Andrea Iannone is to replace Fabio Di Giannantonio at the Sepang round of MotoGP. 

Iannone is to make a return to MotoGP after an absence of five years. The Italian was given a four-year ban for using a banned steroid after the 2019 Sepang MotoGP race, which he claimed was the result of a tainted steak eaten at a Malaysian restaurant. 

Iannone made a successful return to racing at the end of last year, when his ban lapsed. The Italian joined the GoEleven Ducati team, and finished on the podium in his first outing on the bike at Phillip Island. He went on to stand on the podium five times, including taking victory in Race 1 at Aragon.

Iannone has close links to Valentino Rossi and the VR46 Academy structure, having been friends with the Italian MotoGP legend throughout his career. That and Iannone's experience in MotoGP - racing for Ducati, Suzuki, and Aprilia between 2013 and 2019 - made him an easy choice to replace Di Giannantonio, who is set to miss the rest of the season and the Valencia test as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

The press release only mentions Iannone riding at Sepang. There is no mention of whether the Italian will also take Di Giannantonio's place at Valencia. While it is likely that Iannone rides at Valencia as well, Ducati could decide to either put test rider Michele Pirro on the VR46 machine, to get him ready for the test on Tuesday. There is also a slim possibility that Nicolo Bulega, current factory Aruba.it Ducati WorldSBK rider and runner up to Toprak Razgatlioglu in the championship, could be given a ride.

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 press release appears below:

ANDREA IANNONE ON TRACK WITH THE PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM AT SEPANG

From WorldSBK to MotoGP: riding the Ducati DesmosediciGP, the Italian rider will replace Fabio Di Giannantonio at Malaysian GP

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), October 28th 2024 – Andrea Iannone will replace Fabio Di Giannantonio at Malaysian GP this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit on the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.

A choice dictated by the positive first season in WorldSBK and Andrea excellent relationship with Valentino Rossi, the entire Tavullia Team and the Borgo Panigale factory. A victory in MotoGP in 2016 with Ducati and 11 podiums in the Top class for the rider number 29 who closed the 2024 WorldSBK season with 231 points, eighth overall and a victory (Aragon Round).

As announced, Fabio Di Giannantonio is returning home in Rome where, this week, Professor Alessandro Castagna will perform surgery on his left shoulder in preparation for the start of the next season.

ALESSIO SALUCCI, TEAM DIRECTOR PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM

“I am very happy to confirm that Andrea will race with our colors on the Ducati Desmosedici GP. 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”.

ANDREA IANNONE, RIDER

"Riding the world champion bike is exciting. MotoGP is the most technological and high-performance bike, I'm honored 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".