Ducati General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna has all-but-confirmed former MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone will mount his long-awaited racing comeback in the 2024 WorldSBK Championship.

Iannone is reaching the final stages of a lengthy four-year suspension for doping offences, which began in December 2019 when he was competing with Aprilia Racing in the MotoGP premier class.

As a result, Iannone is seeking a high-profile return to competition and is known to have been speaking with WorldSBK teams for 2024, specifically Ducati.

- 2023 WorldSBK Championship Standings -

As it stands, it is unclear where Iannone will fit into Ducati’s line-up but he has been linked most closely with Go Eleven Ducati, though Barni Spark Racing has suggested it could accommodate him if it expands to a two rider line-up alongside Danilo Petrucci.

Either way, over the Catalunya MotoGP weekend, Dall’Igna spoke in the affirmative to suggest an announcement is forthcoming.

“Andrea is an important rider for Ducati, when he joined Ducati the first victory we had was with him in 2016, so I remember it really well. 

He tried to do all the best every time and this is something I have to respect and I respect him. I am really happy he will join one of our satellite teams, I would like to say good luck to him for this comeback.

“For sure, he needs some time to come back for his full potential but he has a lot of talent, a big heart, so I expect during 2024 can get some results.”