Andrea Iannone thinks Valentino Rossi would race in Harley-Davidson championship on one condition

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Andrea Iannone thinks Valentino Rossi might be tempted to make a guest appearance in the Harley-Davidson championship if other legendary riders took part.

The new-for-2026 series, officially known as the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, has joined the MotoGP schedule at six races.

The campaign began in Austin in March, while the second round took place at Mugello next weekend. Further stops are planned at Assen, Silverstone, Aragon and the Red Bull Ring in the coming months.

Andrea Iannone: Casey Stoner could tempt Valentino Rossi to Baggers

Iannone didn’t compete in the first round of the championship, but joined the Niti Racing team for round two and plans to take part in the four remaining events. He won the second race of the weekend at Mugello.

Iannone is a MotoGP race-winner, but his career as a full-time rider was effectively ended by a four-year doping ban in 2019.

Speaking over the weekend, via Motosan, he issued a glowing review of the new series: “These bikes are amazing. We have no aerodynamics and no electronics.”

Among others, two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has lamented the rise of electronics in the sport, so Iannone thinks the 40-year-old would love the Harley-Davidson bikes.

“Casey Stoner, do you want to come race here with us?” he said. “We’d have a lot of fun, I’m waiting for you.”

Iannone even thinks that Rossi could be persuaded if he sees a legend like Stoner taking part.

“With a legend like him, perhaps Valentino Rossi would also return,” he said. “I don’t think other riders are really interested, but I propose it. A race, for example, at Phillip Island.”

Rossi retired from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season but remains active in sportscar racing.

Iannone and Rossi have a good relationship, so much so that Jorge Lorenzo even claimed that The Doctor received assistance from his fellow Italian back in 2015.

There are five sessions per weekend for the Harley-Davidson riders, starting with two 20-minute practice slots on a Friday. Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning, setting the grid for a pair of races lasting seven to nine laps.