Andrea Iannone performed well in his return to competition after four years of suspension. Making his debut in the Superbike World Championship, the GoEleven Team rider finished the first round of the season in Phillip Island with a podium and a fourth place in the main races, finishing 14th in the Superpole race after experiencing some problems with the bike.
In an interview with WorldSBK, the Italian described his weekend as follows: ‘I believe we ended this weekend with positive energy, with a positive feeling, because we achieved a third place in the first race. It’s a shame about the Superpole race, because I lost the handlebar grip, it was dangerous, it was strange – it was the first time in my life, but it happens. In the second race, with the first set of tires, I was really happy; the feeling was incredible. But with the second set of tires, I lost everything. I don’t know; maybe the temperature was dropping and the feeling was definitely worse. But in any case, I think it’s a good way to start’.
Although he felt he could have done more in the second race, Iannone rejected any frustration: ‘I’m not frustrated, but I think when you can achieve more and you don’t, it’s a bit… I’m not completely happy, I’m 70 percent happy. But in any case, it was an incredible comeback, third, fourth, in the end, I can’t speak or think negatively. We need to maintain this, we need to keep working hard and maybe Barcelona will be better’.
The Maniac also said: ‘I’m really excited. We fought hard, everything is difficult because all the riders are fast. Kawasaki was also very fast on the straight, BMW is quick, everyone – the level is really high. But I enjoyed it a lot, I think this was a truly magical and special weekend’.
