Suzuki has announced that Andrea Iannone has signed on with Team Suzuki Ecstar for the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP seasons. The Ducati Team rider will leave Andrea Dovizioso riding with the Ducati Team for the 2017 and 2018 seasons alongside the newly-signed Jorge Lorenzo.
Here is the press release from Suzuki:
Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce the agreement with Andrea Iannone as a Factory rider of Team SUZUKI ECSTAR for 2017-2018.
The Italian will ride the Factory GSX-RR in the MotoGP™ World Championship for the upcoming two years following the 2016 season.
Iannone was born on August 9th, 1989 in Vasto, Southern Italy. He started racing in the Italian and Spanish Championships in 2004 when he was 15 years old. He moved to the 125 World Championship in 2005, winning four races, before he stepped-up to Moto2 in 2010; always finishing in the top-three places in the Championship and winning eight races. He moved to MotoGP™ in 2013, and in 2015 – his third season – secured fifth place overall, recording one Pole Position and three podiums.
Davide Brivio – Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Team Manager:
“We are happy to have enrolled Andrea in our Team for the next two years. He is one of the top riders in MotoGP™ and he is also very passionate and motivated; which fits into our racing philosophy. Our technical project is continuously improving since our debut in 2015 and we are working hard to make our GSX-RR very competitive so that it can fight consistently close to top and victory as soon as possible. We wanted a rider that could help Suzuki continue its road to the top. Andrea is a fast rider who has the hunger for success and his riding style could suit our machine’s characteristics, therefore giving us good hopes for a positive partnership. Being in his fourth year in MotoGP™ he’s also an experienced rider from which the whole Team will benefit.”
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After seeing AIs results in FP2 today, Suzuki is probably feeling good. Next year is shaping up for a great season and this one ain’t even half over yet.
I bet with that sweet-handling Suzuki he’ll go the distance on 2 wheels more frequently. I’m psyched to see this!
Suzuki need to get Rizla sponsoring them again. Maniac Joe rolling a joint would out-hipster any sort of Marlboro man.
The guy’s fast enough to podium or even win, if he can avoid crashing, which is a challenge for them. Hopefully Suzuki has laid in a large stock of fairings.
He’s faster than Dovi..like you said, if he can avoid crashes, he might make Ducati regret it..
I agree, he is faster than Dovi. I also think the Ducati’s over sized wings are why it keeps washing out in the corners. Iannone pushes harder and the wings won’t have it. When Dovi pushed it, to maintain Marquez’s pace, he wrecked as well. Iannone owns the bone head move of taking them both off the podium, but I think he will win on the Suzuki before Dovi wins on the Ducati.
Aleix is going to need extra armor in his leathers.