The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team has officially announced that Andrea Iannone will step in for Fabio Di Giannantonio at the upcoming Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia. This decision comes on the heels of Iannone’s impressive performance in the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) and his longstanding connection with Valentino Rossi and the Ducati team.
Iannone, who previously enjoyed success in MotoGP, including a victory with Ducati in 2016 and a total of 11 podium finishes, made a strong comeback to competitive racing in 2024. He wrapped up his WorldSBK season with 231 points, securing eighth place overall and clinching a win at the Tissot Aragon Round.
In contrast, Di Giannantonio will be heading back to Rome to undergo shoulder surgery performed by Professor Alessandro Castagna in preparation for the next season.
Alessio Salucci, Team Director of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, expressed his enthusiasm about Iannone’s return to the MotoGP fold: “I am very happy to confirm that Andrea will race with our colours on the Ducati Desmosedici GP. First of all, Andrea has proven his excellent shape by finishing the WorldSBK season on a high note and staying closely connected with Ducati. Additionally, he is a great friend of the VR46 family, both personally and also of Vale. We are very pleased to welcome him to the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team and to see him back on a MotoGP bike. It’s truly a great story! At the same time, we all wish Fabio the best of luck as he undergoes shoulder surgery this week, and we can’t wait to see him back on track in 2025.”
Expressing his excitement, Iannone remarked, “Riding the world champion bike is thrilling. MotoGP represents the most technological and high-performing motorcycles. I feel honored that they considered me, and I felt compelled to seize this opportunity as soon as they offered it to me. The challenge is definitely crazy, complex, and important, as I haven’t ridden a bike of this category for years and haven’t done any testing. I am excited to work with Ducati and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, both for the very high level and for the friendship that has linked us for years. I would like to thank Valentino Rossi, Alessio Salucci, Pablo Nieto, Gigi Dall’Igna, Claudio Domenicali, and Mauro Grassilli.”
As Iannone prepares to make his return to MotoGP, fans eagerly anticipate his performance at Sepang, where he will aim to make a significant impact.
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