Source: Supplied.

Ducati Team has announced Andrea Iannone is returning for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix after missing the past two MotoGP World Championship rounds with a fractured vertebra.

Iannone will once again line up with his usual teammate Andrea Dovizioso after an absence that has lasted since the first session of Friday free practice at MotorLand Aragon.

The Italian picked up a T3 vertebra fracture in the first session of free practice at the Misano round and has been forced to miss four races. He arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday and, despite the fact that he admits he is still not at 100 percent fitness, he is ready to step onto his Desmosedici GP at Sepang.

“I’m very happy to finally be able to return to the track and I hope it will be a positive weekend for us, even though I know that it won’t be easy because my back is still not quite right,” Iannone commented.

“In any case I decided to return to racing here at Sepang, also because it’s quite a struggle for me to sit at home and watch the races on TV and I was desperate to get back for Ducati, for myself and for all my fans who always support me.

“I hope to be immediately fast and competitive, even though for sure I will have to understand my condition, my possibilities and my speed. I’m keeping my fingers crossed but we are returning to the track with the aim of obtaining some good results.”

Iannone was replaced by Hector Barbera in Japan and Australia on the factory Ducati team, which led to Australian Mike Jones standing in at Avintia Racing aboard the satellite GP14.2 in place of Barbera. He finished 18th at Motegi and 15th at Phillip Island.