Andrea Iannone achieved a remarkable feat on her World Superbike Championship debut at Phillip Island, following a four-year ban for doping. His third place on the podium was a surprise to many, but to those who know his talent, it didn't seem so surprising.
During the Superpole, Andrea Iannone impressed by qualifying second on the grid, just behind Nicholas Bulega. He then got off to a blazing start in the race, leading for the first six laps. Although he had to give up first place to Locatelli later in the race he managed to cross the finish line in an impressive third place.
Despite his stellar performance, "Joe the Maniac" expressed some frustration for making a mistake that cost him dearly in terms of position. He highlighted problems with engine braking and difficulty controlling his bike in certain corners. However, he was obviously moved and happy about his successful return after such a long absence.
« It was the best return possible “, said Andrea, visibly moved. “ When I was initially in the lead for a few laps, it was incredible. I didn't know what to do, what was going to happen. It was my first race in over four years and I was in the lead. My feeling was good, everything was fine, it was still strange. It's so amazing, so amazing. I'm not yet 100%, I'm not yet where I would like to be. I am more confident for Sunday because I now have the experience of the first race. I think we still have a good chance ».
Andrea Iannone: “ I wanted my bike, now I have one again and I'm back »
Iannone shared his thoughts on his return to competition, discussing the difficult times he went through during his suspension. He expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and friends and emphasized how happy he was to rediscover his passion for motorcycling: “ I thought about the past. During these four years, I had bad times. I consider myself lucky because I have a good life. I have a good family and support from my friends. All is well. But when we lose everything we love, we no longer live as well. Because your life is no longer what you want it to be. I wanted my motorcycle, now I have one again and I'm back. I'm happy because I'm here and strong ».
As for his prospects, the pilot of 34 years remains confident despite the challenge represented by the transition to World Superbike Championship after spending so many years in MotoGP. He acknowledges that there are still adjustments to be made, particularly in terms of mutual understanding with his team and adaptation to the new race format: “ everything is new to me. I don't know my team, we've only been working together for a few months. I don't yet understand my team leader very well and he doesn't understand me either. There are some areas where we can improve. The team and I are only at 80 or 90%. I believe in myself, but everything is new. The race format is also something completely different of MotoGP ».
Overall, the performance ofAndrea Iannone at Phillip Island was remarkable, marking a successful comeback for the Italian driver and raising hopes of even better results to come… “ It's a magical moment for me, I enjoy it and I don't want to stress. This is an excellent result » he concludes before the upcoming competitions for this Sunday…
WSBK Phillip Island J1: ranking
