Andrea Iannone needed a helpful reminder of World Superbikes’ rules ahea🌞d of his comeback from a f﷽our-year absence.

✱A doping ban has kept the ex-MotoGP rider sidelined si🦋nce 2019.

Iannone, now age💙d 34, has joined GoEleven Ducati in WSBK this year.

“I don’t know what🐻 to expec😼t,” he said ahead of this weekend’s season-opener in Phillip Island.

“Everything is new for me.

“The format is completely different. I🌞 ne෴eded my team manager to explain the rules to me!

“I am really excited.

“It’s a strange feeling. But I am happy t💯o be hꦐere.

“This is what I have loved most, all my life.”

Ian♛none has frequ🍰ently been a part of test days with MotoGP Ducati riders over the past year as he ramped up his comeback plans.

But increas🤡ing the speed during preseason has provided a greater gauge of his true potential, and there 🦄is some excitement over Iannone’s addition to the grid.

He assessed his prepa🦄ration: “Not bad. I am a little bit surprised.

“The speed, in general, was high🥂. We weren’t sure, a👍t the beginning.

“In four years I never tried to ride a race bike.

“It’s a good preseason for us.”

What can Iannone realistica🐻lly achieve a🌠fter a four-year absence? In a brand-new series?

“We want to try to fight with𝐆 the best riders,” he insisted.

“The first 10 positions is our goal, our target.

“When we arrive higher than 10th, it is perfect.

“Step by step, race b🙈y time, we need to improve and achieve better results.”

But surely Iannone is targeting podiums -♔ and perhaps more - at some stage this year?

He🌳 ans✅wered: “Realistic? It is difficult because I’m coming back.

“It’s a clear situation. We willꦉ try our best, for su𝄹re.”