Outgoing Ducati MotoGP rider signs new two-year deal with Team Ecstar Suzuki.
More news from MotoGP, this time surrounding rider Andrea Iannone. Speculation was rife in recent weeks about the Italian rider’s plans, as well as Spanish rider Maverick Viñales.
Whilst the latter Spaniard was already predicted to replace Jorge Lorenzo in the factory-backed Yamaha team from 2017 onwards, a huge question mark loomed over Iannone’s future after Ducati confirmed signing defending world champion Lorenzo and retaining current rider Andrea Dovizioso.
This of course left Andrea Iannone without a seat for next season, but it appears the Italian was already making his moves quietly all this while as he successfully inked a two-year deal with the factory-backed Suzuki squad. Iannone will undoubtedly be taking the vacant seat in the Team Ecstar Suzuki encampment left by Yamaha-bound Viñales for the next two seasons – 2017 and 2018.
Having joined the factory Ducati outfit in 2015, Iannone has shown strong potential. Most notable of which were several podium finishes he scored for the storied Italian team last year in Qatar, Mugello and Phillip Island.
Adding to that is his most recent one in Austin where he finished third, but a series a retirements, including the infamous collision with teammate Dovizioso in Argentina, is hampering his performance this season.
Despite being dropped by Ducati, Iannone still looks promising with the new factory seat with Suzuki. Like Ducati, Suzuki have a package that is able to land its rider a podium and perhaps a race win in the not so distant future too.
With both Andrea Iannone and Maverick Viñales confirmed for the next two seasons, the next question many are asking now is where British rider Cal Crutchlow would head to next. Crutchlow was rumoured to be in competition with Iannone for the Suzuki seat, but the recent confirmation now puts the Brit in an even tougher situation indeed.
Sources: Asphaltandrubber / MCN
