Andrea Iannone has made a significant return to the racetrack this season in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK), riding a Ducati for Team GoEleven. After four rounds, he sits in sixth place in the championship standings, already boasting podium finishes.
These performances have made him a highly sought-after rider in the WSBK paddock. While there is talk of a potential return to MotoGP, rumors also suggest interest from rivals of Team GoEleven and Ducati.
Iannone has the option to continue with his current team and may also be considered for the factory team of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer if Álvaro Bautista leaves, given that Nicolò Bulega is expected to stay.
According to GPOne.com, Iannone is being considered by Honda. There was reportedly an approach after the Barcelona round, but “The Maniac” is said to be taking his time to decide on his next move. His evaluation could involve several WSBK teams and also weigh the possibility of switching back to MotoGP.
Honda has been making significant investments in WSBK, but results have been underwhelming. Even Álvaro Bautista’s stint with the team in 2020 and 2021 didn’t yield the expected success. Xavi Vierge has had modest performances with the CBR1000-RR, currently outside the top 15 in the championship, trailing behind many riders from independent teams, including Nicholas Spinelli, who replaced the injured Danilo Petrucci in the Barni Spark Racing Team in Assen and secured a victory (albeit with a bit of luck). Iker Lecuona missed two of the four rounds due to injury but bounced back in Misano with three top-ten finishes.
Bringing in Iannone could further demonstrate Honda’s determination to achieve success in WSBK. However, it’s important to note that a single rider cannot make all the difference. As seen in MotoGP, having a champion like Joan Mir and previously having Marc Márquez until the end of 2023 hasn’t translated into consistently strong results with the RC213V.