Bautista responds to Iannone after he said: 'I did 15 seconds better than Bautista last year'

11/04/2024 07:08 AM

Andrea Iannone has made bold claims about how he did better in the Malaysian Grand Prix than Alvaro Bautista did in 2023.

It has been heavily documented that Andrea Iannone returned to MotoGP this weekend for the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Italian spent five years away from the MotoGP paddock and on his return he finished in 17th, 47.599 seconds behind Francesco Bagnaia.

After his MotoGP return, Iannone made a dig at World Superbike rival, Alvaro Bautista. The two-time World Superbike Champion also appeared at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2023. But, Iannone has made claims that he did better in 2024 than Bautista did in 2023.

"The goal was to finish the race," Iannone said. "In the end I did 15 seconds better than Bautista last year more or less on the same bike. Plus he had a chance to try it out while I packed my bag from Jerez and came here. My yardstick has to be that, not Bagnaia."

After these claims were made by Iannone, Bautista responded to the Italian's claims. The Spaniard took to X and discussed what Iannone had said.

Bautista said: "Oh my goodness…thank goodness there are times…actually he was exactly 2 minutes faster than me…with 1 lap less of course, because if you take 1 lap off my time, to do 19 like he did, I am 3 seconds faster…and injured…"

The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati rider quickly dismantled Iannone's claims and shut down the Italian's claims.

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