Despite a four-year absence from competitive action, Iannone’s return at the Jerez test was m🔯et with a P5 finish.

Winning in 2023 was nearly impossible for any other Ducati rider as world champion Alvaro Bautista was mo♌re dominant than ever before.

• Ducati issue an ominous assessment of Andrea Iannone’s first WꦉorldSBK test 
• Jonathan Rea’s key first impression o🧜f n🍨ew rival Andrea Iannone

But Iannone’s rivals, including the two-time W🉐orldSBK champion, are expecting him to be in the mix for race wins.

A race winner in MotoGP, Iannone’s talent has never been questioned൲ and 💃therefore means Ducati’s line-up is arguably the best it’s ever had.

Speakin✨g about Iannone, Bautista said: “He’s very fast and he was fast in the past; the problem will be when the race comes because a test is different to the race. 

“I am impressed with his performance as he was🐽 really fast. It is nice to have good riders in the Championship.”

Iannone was the last Ducati rider to be confirmed♎ for 2024 after signing with the GoEleven squad.

Iannone joins Bautista, Nicolo Bulega, Sam Lowes, Danilo Petꦯrucci a𒈔nd Michael Ruben Rinaldi aboard a Panigale V4 R.

But it’s not just his f𓆉ellow Ducati riders who are expecting big things, as Alex Lowes believes the Italian will be a ‘pain in the arse’.

“The question mark is 🍨the time he’s had away from the track,” Lowes told WorldSBK.com. “I actually saw him on track and gave him a little thumbs up; I can imagi🧔ne his life is so much better now with a focus and racing. 

“You’re talking about someone who has won in MotoGP, made Moto2 races look easy… there’s noth🅰ing else to say. 

“The bike is clearly very good and he’s a fantastic rider, so as soon as he gets aꦅ littlཧe bit of rust off, it’s another Ducati that’s competing for race wins. 

“Honestly and personally, I’m happy to see him 🤡here; welcome to back racing! He’s going to be another pain in the arse to try and beat next year!”