Jonathan Rea’s key first impression of new WorldSBK rival Andrea Iannone

Both ri𓃲ding new machinery at Jerez, and ready for a 2024 season in new teams, next season might represent a last chance to win a championship for either rider.
Iannone, joining GoEleven Ducati after a four-year doping🅘 ban, impressed by going fifth-fastest on the second day of testing.
Rea said about Iannone: “You never know. Testing is testing, and♊ racing is a different 🐬story.
“I spoke to him earlier. It was ni♏ce to speak. It seems that he’s excited to be here, wh♏ich is really good.
“It’s a different challenge for him, of course.

“He’s on a competitive bike.
“I didn’t see him on track but, seeไing the results, he’s fast.
“Everyone knoꦦws that. He’s a GP winner. He has 𝕴an incredible CV.
“The expectation is that he’s there, he🅷 should be there.
“He’s another guy to race at the front so it’𓂃s more exciting…”
Rea is hoping to reinvi💟gorate his career by swapping Kawasaki for Yam♕aha.
Toprak R💙azgatlioglu is also swapping machinery - going from Yamaha to BMW - while champion Alvaro Bautista will stay on a Ducati.
But Iannone, the ex-MotoGP rider who has missed the past four years amid a suspension, could be the wildcard in the titlꦕe fight.

James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything 𒐪from🐻 American sports, to football, to F1.