Iannone: Mugello form shows Suzuki split "unfortunate"

The Italian revealed on Thursday that he had been informed his Suzuki deal would not be extended past this year – and then promptly topped both of Friday's Italian Grand Prix practice sessions.

Iannone, who scored back-to-back podiums at COTA and Jerez this year, is expected to be replaced by Moto2 rider Joan Mir – while his current teammate Alex Rins has already been re-signed.

Rins was on the podium in Argentina, but sits five spots behind seventh-placed Iannone in the standings and was only 12th and 15th in the respective Friday sessions at Mugello.

"I won't remain [with Suzuki], unfortunately for both, no?" Iannone said. "Because now the package, Iannone-Suzuki, is really really good.

"But Suzuki chose Alex Rins, and Mir, I think.

"It's important now I stay on top, I work at 100 percent, I push for me to the end of the season at 100 percent, I try always and race my best - and good luck for Suzuki for 2019 and for the future."

Iannone admitted he set out to prove a point - "for me, also for Suzuki" - at Mugello, a track where he'd claimed his first MotoGP pole and two podiums during his Ducati stint.

"I'm really happy about this day, because I start on the top in this special place for me, Italy, my home.

"It's really really special, this day for me, because I think it's first time I start like this. Also the feeling with the bike is really good, we work really well, improve a little bit."

The Italian topped FP1 by 0.550s and FP2 by 0.387s – and said he was encouraged not only by his single-lap efforts, but by his race pace.

"I think this afternoon I have more or less the best pace," he said.

"I think always during the race is a little bit different, everybody are really close and we struggle a little bit in general - but here I have a really good feeling, and I hope I arrive really strong."

Additional reporting by Matteo Nugnes