Image: Supplied.

Italian Andrea Iannone will make his racing return in the 2024 season, lining up with the GoEleven team in next year’s Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

The now 34-year-old has spent four years away from the sport following an anti-doping infringement, and is eager to return after last competing in 2019 with Aprilia in MotoGP.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m finally back on track, where I spent my life,” explained Iannone. “I thank Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Claudio Domenicali, Marco Zambenedetti and the whole GoEleven team for their trust, with their support I have rediscovered the enthusiasm I had as a child. Special thanks also to the WorldSBK family for the opportunity. I’m fully excited.”

The agreement between Iannone – a former MotoGP race winner – and Team GoEleven is a one-year deal onboard a Ducati V4-R, with the option to extend through the 2025 season.

“We have worked hard to make this dream real; we have wanted to shout it out to the world for some time now, but creating such an important project is not easy and must be structured carefully,” said Team GoEleven manager Denis Sacchetti. “‘The Maniac’ has decided to get back into the game, it’s not for everyone, it takes guts after everything that has happened and so much time away from racing.

“It is a courageous choice, for some it may seem crazy, but the right amount of madness and courage can lead to great feats. Why this bet? When we started talking to him, we were impressed by his determination, grit and desire to go back doing what he loves.

“I saw in his eyes the desire and need to race a motorbike, like a child who wants to go back playing and everything that happens around him is out of his mind, because he just wants to go back playing, he has no other thoughts at that moment. We know that it won’t be easy, that at the beginning we will have to suffer and work a lot and work hard, but this awareness unites us even more and stimulates us further.

“I want to thank Gianni Ramello for immediately accepting this opportunity, a particular thank you also goes to Paolo Ciabatti, Gigi Dall’Igna, Claudio Domenicali and Marco Zambenedetti for the support they are giving to this project and obviously thanks to Andrea Iannone for the trust in our team!

“Last but not least, heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors who allow us to take on increasingly important challenges every day, it is only thanks to their passion that it is possible to face new adventures!”

Iannone’s first outing with the GoEleven team will take place at the Jerez test, between 31 October and 1 November.