Nico Bulega not impressed by Ducati’s MotoGP offer: “I’ll have to make sacrifices”

It has essentially been clear for some time that Ducati will be moving its Superbike star rider, Nicolo Bulega, up to MotoGP for 2027. The fact that the contract has still not been signed is down to the protracted negotiations between the 41-time race winner, Ducati Corse and Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team. The three parties have differing interests and have to painstakingly discuss every single point.

VR46 would have preferred to see its own Moto2 home-grown talent, Celestino Vietti, in MotoGP rather than Nicolo Bulega, but as an official satellite team it must bow to Ducati’s wishes. This is because the Bologna-based manufacturer not only grants VR46 access to top-quality equipment, but also covers the riders’ salaries.

Ducati doesn’t need Bulega in MotoGP

In a world ideal for Ducati, Bulega would remain in the World Superbike Championship, racing and winning titles there. The plain truth is that Ducati does not depend on the 26-year-old in MotoGP; next season they have Marc Marquez (33), new signing Pedro Acosta (22) and the equally promising Fermin Aldeguer (21).

As a MotoGP test rider, however, Bulega is worth his weight in gold to Ducati, which is why they are letting the multiple Superbike series winner develop the 850cc machine fitted with Pirelli tyres, rather than relying solely on 40-year-old Michele Pirro.

Ducati initially offered Bulega a 1+1 contract for 2027 and 2028, which the former Supersport champion was not keen on. That’s because with a deal like that, he would come under immense pressure as early as the first third of the season to prove his worth for the following season with outstanding results. There are now signs that Nico is set to secure a two-year contract.

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As a rookie, you have to accept things in your first year that a top rider doesn’t have to put up with.

Nicolo Bulega

It remains unclear what sort of equipment he will receive from Ducati. At the start of the season, the 850s in all three teams will be virtually identical, but subsequently it will be clearly defined who gets which upgrades and when. Naturally, Bulega always wants the latest equipment and doesn’t want to lag behind his team-mate Aldeguer.

Contract is close to being signed

Whilst the MotoGP stars are competing at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, their Superbike counterparts are racing at Donington Park. “We’re very close to me having a clear idea of my future,” Bulega said there during a meeting with SPEEDWEEK.com. “My agency is working hard to secure the perfect solution for me in MotoGP – we’re close.”

Commenting on the current offer, Bulega said: “I’m happy because we’re talking about MotoGP. As a rookie, you have to accept things in your first year that a top rider doesn’t have to put up with. I knew that even before the first talks with MotoGP teams: if I want to take this step, I’ll have to make some sacrifices in the first year. And I’m not just talking about money – it’s about everything.”