Nicolo Bulega has been the only rider to fight head to head against Toprak Razgatlioglu in Superbike and now, in 2026, he is being insultingly dominant at the start of the season. If we add this to the good role he played as a substitute for Marc Márquez, progressing and adapting to MotoGP and his role as developer of the 2027 motorcycle, it was not unreasonable to place him as one of the possible Ducati riders for the next campaign.
In fact, for part of the winter he has sounded like one of the candidates to make the jump to the premier category and, nothing more and nothing less, than with Ducati. But the transfer market is completely paralyzed and, although by this time it was expected to have confirmations, the reality is that apart from Bezzecchi and the officialization of his continuity in Aprilia, there is no more news on the matter.
There are many rumors, those do not stop and some assume movements that would free a Ducati in Gresini Racing. The imaginary chair dance for a motorcycle for 2027 placed Bulega, precisely, on that motorcycle. In theory, Gresini’s possible return to Honda seems to be behind us and Nadia Padovani’s team will therefore remain as a satellite.
Bulega aspired to one of Gresini’s motorcycles
But Gresini’s two bikes have several contenders. It is assumed that Álex Márquez will go to KTM and that Fermín Aldeguer will move to VR46 as Fabio Di Giannantonio’s partner. So the original spot for Bulega was more or less made. However, the latest information-rumors suggest that, on the one hand, Dani Holgado and, on the other, Enea Bastianini, would now be the main candidates for those motorcycles.
This would leave Nicolo, at least for now, without a place because Marc Márquez would be accompanied by Pedro Acosta in the official team. As we say, despite the rumors and even the possibilities that there are signed contracts, at the moment no one has confirmed anything. Thus, with the six motorcycles “owned”, Nicolo would have to continue in WSBK and be a MotoGP test rider.
What’s more, the possibilities in case he does not get the place as a permanent driver could be to be the replacement for Michele Pirro. The until now Ducati tester and reserve rider will turn 40 this year and Bulega, at 26 years old, could be the ideal candidate both for the role of test rider, which this year he will share with Pirro, and as a substitute, as he demonstrated at the end of the season.
In any case, it seems that Nicolo is also comfortable in his current role and not choosing him does not seem to have an intrinsic effect on the current WSBK leader leaving the brand.
