Andrea Iannone Return to MotoGp with Pertamina Enduro VR46

Five years after his last race in MotoGP, ‘The Maniac’ returns to this weekend’s Grand Prix paddock at Sepang, stepping in for Di Giannantonio following his injury.

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The Pertamina Enduro VR46 team has confirmed that Andrea Iannone will return to the premier class, taking over for Fabio Di Giannantonio at this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix. 

This marks Iannone’s first appearance in MotoGP since 2019, as Di Giannantonio heads into surgery to address a left shoulder injury sustained in Austria back in August, which will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Iannone’s comeback follows a four-year hiatus after his final race with Aprilia at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, where he briefly led the pack before his suspension began. 

Andrea Iannone to Make Long-Awaited MotoGP Return with Pertamina Enduro VR46 at Malaysian GP

The 35-year-old, who has seven seasons and one victory to his name from his time with Ducati, Suzuki, and Aprilia, now returns through the VR46 team’s close connection to the VR46 Academy and Ducati.

Following a doping suspension in 2019 for the prohibited steroid substance Drostanolone, Iannone’s ban was lifted last year, allowing him to make a successful debut in WorldSBK with GoEleven Ducati, where he achieved five podiums and a win at Aragon.

“Riding the world champion bike is exciting. MotoGP is the most advanced and high-performance category; I couldn’t turn down this chance,” Iannone stated, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. 

Di Giannantonio underwent surgery to repair a left shoulder injury he sustained in Austria in August.

VR46 Team Director Alessio Salucci echoed this enthusiasm: “Andrea is in great shape, closing the WorldSBK season on a high and remaining close to Ducati. We are thrilled to welcome him back.”

As the Sepang race approaches, the seasoned Italian is ready to seize the spotlight in his MotoGP return, while the team sends their best to Di Giannantonio for a full recovery by 2025.