News 19 May 2016

Iannone seals Suzuki MotoGP seat in two-year deal

Another factory ride filled as 2017 silly season unfolds.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

Italian hard-charger Andrea Iannone will remain a factory MotoGP rider in the 2017 and 2018 seasons after signing with Team Suzuki Ecstar.

Iannone lost out to current teammate Andrea Dovizioso for the second factory Ducati Team ride alongside Jorge Lorenzo, but quickly found a new home at Suzuki.

“We are happy to have enrolled Andrea in our team for the next two years,” explained Suzuki team manager Davide Brivio. “He is one of the top riders in MotoGP and he is also very passionate and motivated, which fits into our racing philosophy.

“Our technical project is continuously improving since our debut in 2015 and we are working hard to make our GSX-RR very competitive so that it can fight consistently close to top and victory as soon as possible.

“We wanted a rider that could help Suzuki continue its road to the top. Andrea is a fast rider who has the hunger for success and his riding style could suit our machine’s characteristics, therefore giving us good hopes for a positive partnership. Being in his fourth year in MotoGP he’s also an experienced rider from which the whole Team will benefit.”

The 26-year-old Iannone arrived in the 125 World Championship in 2005, winning four races, before he stepped up to Moto2 in 2010, where he always finished in the top three places in the championship and won eight races.

Iannone moved to MotoGP in 2013 with Pramac Racing and in 2015 as part of the official Ducati squad secured fifth place overall, recording one pole position and three podiums.

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