“Not impossible” for Nicolo Bulega to make MotoGP move without Ducati

It is “not impossible” for current WorldSBK points leader Nicolo Bulega to move to MotoGP next season without Ducati.

Bulega joined Ducati’s production racing project in the World Supersport class in 2022, the first year of the Next Generation rules that allowed Ducati to enter the category with its Panigale V2.

A year later, Bulega – who moved to Supersport after a grand prix career that yielded only two podiums in the Moto3 class and none in Moto2 – won the Supersport title and earned a move up to World Superbike with Ducati’s factory team.

In his two full seasons in the premier category of production racing, Bulega has finished second in the championship on both occasions – and on both occasions he was second to Toprak Razgatlioglu, who in the process earned himself his own MotoGP move for 2025 with Pramac Yamaha.

Bulega wasn’t beaten by a rider other than Razgatlioglu in dry races during 2025, and has started this season unbeaten through two rounds. The Italian is therefore theoretically in-line to follow Razgatlioglu to MotoGP next season, especially given his insertion into the Ducati MotoGP test team this year alongside Michele Pirro.

But a spot in MotoGP is not guaranteed for Bulega next season, and he must wait for things to be finalised among the championship’s current top riders before he can make his move.

“We have to wait for the big names to officially communicate their intentions and once the team leaders are in place then the teams will think about their teammates,” Bulega’s manager, Alberto Martinelli, said in an interview with the Italian motorcycling publication, Moto.it.

Martinelli admitted that, while Ducati is Bulega’s priority for a MotoGP move, it is “not impossible” for him to go back to the grand prix paddock with a different brand.

"Difficult but not impossible,” Martinelli said.

“At Ducati they know that our priority is to stay with them in MotoGP as well, but it takes two to get married and if we don't receive an offer in time then we can resume contact with other teams. 

“We don't know what the priorities of the Borgo Panigale company are and what their agreements with the satellite teams are, so we can only wait, but we won't do it indefinitely.”

Martinelli added that Bulega remains concentrated on winning the World Superbike title this year above all else. 

“Nicolo [Bulega] is a professional and has great determination,” Martinelli said.

“He knows that winning the Superbike World Championship is a feat that will consecrate him among the top riders in motorcycling.”

Bulega started the 2026 WorldSBK season with six wins in a row at Phillip Island and then Portimao. His win streak extends back 10 races to Race 2 at Estoril last October.