Breaking news
MotoGP GP of the Americas
Iannone was “about to explode” before Austin podium
Andrea Iannone has said he was close to exploding with anger before scoring his first MotoGP podium as a Suzuki rider in last weekend’s Austin race.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Apr 25, 2018, 10:40 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Italian finished third behind Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales to register his first top-three finish since the 2016 season finale in Valencia, his last race for Ducati.
Since then, Iannone has come in for widespread criticism for his poor performances and a perceived lack of effort, in particular from 1993 500cc champion and Suzuki ambassador Kevin Schwantz.
Iannone admitted the past year had been a difficult time for him, and was eager to thank those who stood by him after achieving his breakthrough result at the Circuit of the Americas.
"I was stronger than all the bad things people said to me," he said. "For the last year and a half it has been very difficult to be Andrea Iannone.
"2016 was a positive year, then everyone had very high expectations of me. Of course this is nice, but if you cannot meet them and you disappoint, you come all the way back like a boomerang.
"I took all the criticism for so long, and I was about to explode [with anger]. So I have to thank all the people close to me and who have always supported me.
"They criticised me a lot, but I didn't stop believing in myself. I have always believed in my potential."
Iannone also revealed that a meeting in Italy with crew chief Marco Rigamonti helped clear the air between the two following a disappointing run of results with Suzuki.
"There was a period during which everything needed to reset everything a bit," he explained.
"I had a meeting in Italy with my engineer Marco Rigamonti, because we were living a moment that was not positive for either of us.
"I think it was useful and that it was good to confront each other, man to man, because it led to something constructive. We are back where we always wanted to be.
"It will not be easy to stay there for the whole year but we will continue to work to do it."
Despite his podium, Iannone's position within Suzuki is still at risk, with Jorge Lorenzo now the Hamamatsu marque's primary target to line up alongside Alex Rins in 2019.
Iannone has previously stated he has chances elsewhere in the MotoGP paddock even if his first preference would be to stay put.
Additional reporting by Matteo Nugnes
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Dovizioso rejects Ducati's initial contract offer
Next article Espargaro certain Aprilia will "surprise" in next races
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Andrea Iannone
Andrea Iannone returns to MotoGP paddock in Harley-Davidson support series
MotoGP
MotoGP
French GP
Andrea Iannone returns to MotoGP paddock in Harley-Davidson support series
Ducati: Iannone’s MotoGP return a “reward” for what he missed during ban
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
Ducati: Iannone’s MotoGP return a “reward” for what he missed during ban
Bagnaia favours Bulega over Iannone for MotoGP debut with VR46
MotoGP
MotoGP
Bagnaia favours Bulega over Iannone for MotoGP debut with VR46
More from
Team Suzuki MotoGP
The MotoGP philosophy Suzuki's "madman" installed that Honda and Yamaha can't
MotoGP
MotoGP
The MotoGP philosophy Suzuki's "madman" installed that Honda and Yamaha can't
Mir: No publicity campaign will replicate what MotoGP gave Suzuki
MotoGP
MotoGP
Valencia GP
Mir: No publicity campaign will replicate what MotoGP gave Suzuki
Bizarre Suzuki test planned on eve of MotoGP exit
MotoGP
MotoGP
Bizarre Suzuki test planned on eve of MotoGP exit
Latest news
GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend
Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 2 h
Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
6 h
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
6 h
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe