Andrea Iannone performed well in his return to competition after a four-year suspension. Making his debut in the World Superbike Championship, the Team GoEleven rider concluded the opening round of the season at Phillip Island with a podium finish and a fourth place in the main races, finishing 14th in the Superpole race after encountering some issues with the bike.
Speaking to WorldSBK, the Italian described his weekend as follows: ‘I think we close this weekend with positive energy, with a positive feeling because we achieved a third position in the first race. It’s a pity for the Superpole race, because we lost handlebar grip, it was dangerous, it was strange – it was the first time in my life, but it happens. In the race 2, with the first tyres I was really, really happy; the feeling was incredible. But with the second tyres I lost everything. I don’t know; maybe the temperature was coming low and the feeling was worse for sure. But in any case, I think it’s a good way to start’.
Despite feeling that 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 achieve it, it’s a little bit… I’m not completely happy, I’m happy at 70%. But in any case it was an incredible come back: third, fourth, at the end I can’t talk or think in a negative way. We need to keep this, we need to continue to push and maybe in Barcelona will be better’.
The Maniac also said: ‘I’m really excited. We battled a lot, everything is difficult, because every riders are fast. The Kawasaki was really fast also on the straight, BMW is fast, everybody – the level is really high. But I enjoyed a lot, I think this was a really magical and special weekend’.