Marco Bezzecchi expressed his emotional response upon seeing Andrea Iannone in Malaysia as he prepares for his surprising return to MotoGP with VR46 Ducati.
Iannone steps in for Fabio Di Giannantonio, whose 2024 season concluded early due to shoulder surgery after a serious injury sustained during the Austrian GP.
Iannone, a one-time grand prix victor who last raced in 2019, is making his comeback after a four-year doping suspension. Although opinions on his return are mixed, the majority of riders, including Bezzecchi, are thrilled with VR46’s choice.
Bezzecchi admitted, “Seeing Andrea again brought back a lot of emotions. I’ve always admired him as a phenomenal rider, one of the top Italian talents of our era. Having him in our team is fantastic, and I hope to learn from him.”
This weekend marks Iannone’s first opportunity to race a Ducati since 2016, a pivotal year when he ended the brand’s long wait for a win in the premier class.
Enea Bastianini echoed Bezzecchi’s enthusiasm, anticipating that Iannone will quickly find his rhythm on the GP23.
“I think he’ll be competitive; he’s a remarkable talent, and I’m eager to hear his thoughts after practice,” Bastianini noted.
Franco Morbidelli from Pramac referred to Iannone’s return as a “wonderful story,” highlighting it as a fitting conclusion to a year in which he made his racing comeback.
“It’s fantastic to see him back on a bike. After four years away, these last two races are a special treat for him and the fans,” Morbidelli remarked.
While VR46 has yet to reveal who will take Di Giannantonio’s place for the Valencia GP scheduled for November 15-17, concerns over severe flooding in the area may jeopardize the race’s feasibility.