When in 2019 Andrea Iannone was subjected to a positive anti-doping control, his world fell apart. He was suspended for four years in a controversial case in which he consistently declared his innocence, alleging the theory of contaminated food consumption.
But «The Maniac» did not give up. Despite being banned from competing, he remained connected to motorcycles, training as much as he could during the suspension years – always with an eye on an uncertain career restart, given that age was not on his side.
The effort paid off: at 34 years old – and later turning 35 – he returned to action. However, the challenge was new, different from what he was accustomed to in MotoGP. He made his debut in the World Superbike Championship, racing production-derived bikes with a Ducati Panigale V4 R for Team GoEleven.
For this reason, it was a year of adaptation and recovery of competitive pace. Iannone did not shy away from the challenge and made an impressive start with a podium finish (in third place) in his first race. A regular presence in the fight for top-five positions, the Italian demonstrated that his worth remained intact, despite his age and the many years away from racing.
Throughout 2024, he secured four more podiums, with the highlight being his victory in the first race at Aragón. In the end, he finished the championship in eighth place as the second-best independent rider, amassing 231 points.
Iannone showed that resilience and perseverance can pay off. He beat many experienced rivals in the championship who were in competitive form, also emerging as the best of the rookies in WSBK (the second was Sam Lowes, also on a Ducati, in 18th place).