Dall’Igna (Ducati) on Bulega: “The time is right”

Nicolo Bulega’s unusual career path will finally take him to MotoGP in 2027. The 26-year-old is moving from the Superbike World Championship to the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team, where he will be team-mate to Fermin Aldeguer on a Ducati Desmosedici GP.

Ducati is continuing its collaboration with Bulega across different classes. The Italian will therefore remain part of the Ducati racing project even after leaving the Aruba.it Ducati factory team. For Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna, the time has come for Bulega to move up. “We are delighted to extend our agreement with Nicolo and to welcome him to Ducati’s MotoGP project from next season,” explained the Ducati racing boss.

According to Dall’Igna, Bulega has continued to develop over the past few years. “He has proved that he is a very talented rider who can consistently improve, get the most out of our motorbikes and reach an extremely high standard.”

After a difficult spell in Moto3 and Moto2, Bulega relaunched his career in 2022 by moving to the Supersport World Championship. In 2023, he became world champion on a Ducati, before moving up to the factory Superbike team. In his first two years in the top production-based class, he finished as runner-up in the world championship on both occasions; he is currently on course for the world title.

Luigi Dall'Igna mit MotoGP-Aufsteiger Nicolo Bulega

Foto: Gold & Goose

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“His journey confirms that he not only has a strong and successful present, but also a very promising future,” emphasised Dall’Igna. “We believe that now is the right time to take on this new challenge.”

Dall’Igna: VR46 is the ideal environment

Dall’Igna considers the fact that Bulega is moving to VR46, of all places, to be a key factor. After all, the Italian is familiar with the environment from his youth and his years in Moto3 and Moto2. “The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team is the ideal environment to support him as he adapts to MotoGP,” Dall’Igna is convinced. “We are certain that there he will be given all the tools he needs to maximise his potential.”

However, before the focus shifts entirely to MotoGP, Bulega still has an important task to complete. “The new challenge will have to wait,” Dall’Igna clarified. “At the moment, the focus remains on the World Superbike Championship. Nicolo is having a brilliant season and now we need to concentrate all our efforts on a single goal: fighting together for the world title.”

Dall’Igna explicitly highlights the role of Aruba.it Ducati. He said the team had given Bulega the opportunity to prove himself anew in production-based racing following his difficult Grand Prix career. “They were the first to believe in him,” emphasised the Ducati racing director, praising the work of Stefano Cecconi’s team. “The development that has brought him to the point where he is ready for MotoGP is the result of a shared commitment, the team’s hard work and the determination that Nicolo has shown year after year.”

Why Bulega has a particular advantage in 2027

VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto also sees no doubt that Bulega has earned his place in MotoGP. “With Nicolo Bulega, we complete our rider line-up for next year. He has proven time and again that he is very talented and determined,” explained Nieto. “His journey hasn’t always been easy, but he is now dominating the Superbike World Championship. He has proven that he deserves a place in MotoGP.”

The timing of his promotion will undoubtedly work in Bulega’s favour. In 2027, a new technical era will begin in MotoGP with the new 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics and the switch from Michelin to Pirelli. “The regulations are changing next year and we’ll all be starting from scratch,” Nieto pointed out.

Nicolo Bulega auf der MotoGP-Ducati

Foto: gold & goose

It is precisely in this regard that Bulega could possess experience that hardly any other MotoGP rookie can match. Thanks to his years in Supersport and Superbike, he knows the Pirelli tyres inside out. At the same time, he is already working as a Ducati test rider on the new Desmosedici GP for 2027.

Nieto sees this as a significant advantage: “His experience with the tyres from the World Superbike Championship and the tests with the new Ducati Desmosedici GP as a Ducati test rider will certainly help him adapt well to the new category and make this transition as smooth as possible.”

Pablo Nieto mit Nicolò Bulega

Foto: SKY VR46

Bulega may be entering as a MotoGP rookie, but he is by no means starting from scratch. In addition to his experience with Pirelli, he is already familiar with the new Ducati and, at the end of 2025, completed his first two MotoGP race weekends as a reserve rider in the Ducati factory team. Nieto is accordingly ambitious about their future together: “We have faith in him and know that he will be able to fight for good results.”

For Bulega, this brings things full circle. His path with VR46 once took him through Moto3 and Moto2, without the hoped-for breakthrough materialising. It was only the switch to production-based racing that put his career on the road to success. In 2027, he will return to VR46 – this time with Ducati’s backing and as a regular rider in MotoGP.