In a surprising turn of events, reports suggest that teams are seriously considering former MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone as a temporary replacement for VR46 in the upcoming MotoGP rounds. The seat became available after VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio is set to undergo shoulder surgery. Ruling him out for the rest of the season following the Thailand MotoGP.
Though VR46 has not yet officially confirmed Di Giannantonio’s replacement, reports from Italian outlets Motosprint and GPOne suggest that Iannone is the frontrunner for the role. Iannone, who last raced in MotoGP in 2019 before serving a four-year doping ban, has made a successful comeback this season in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) with Go Eleven Ducati.
Earlier this week, Iannone signed a new contract to stay with Go Eleven Ducati in WSBK for the 2024 season, but the timing of the WSBK season finale this weekend in Jerez leaves the door open for a brief MotoGP return. His longstanding ties with Ducati and his recent strong performances in WSBK make him an attractive option for VR46.
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi and Ducati’s General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna both support Iannone stepping in for Di Giannantonio for the final two rounds of the season.
While VR46 has already confirmed Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli as their full-time riders for 2025, the potential inclusion of Iannone as a temporary replacement would mark a dramatic return to the premier class for the Italian, who has not raced in MotoGP since the end of 2019.
Fans now eagerly await an official announcement from VR46 regarding Di Giannantonio’s replacement, with Iannone seemingly at the forefront of the list.
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