BULEGA FORCED TO MISS NEXT MOTOGP TEST AFTER MUGELLO CRASH

Nicolo Bulega’s Mugello crash has forced a change to his MotoGP testing plans, with the Aruba.it Ducati rider set to miss the next scheduled session at the Red Bull Ring. The 26-year-old suffered a heavy fall during development running with Ducati’s new MotoGP prototype ahead of the 2027 season, but initial medical checks ruled out bone fractures after he was taken to hospital for examination.

Even so, the aftermath has not been straightforward. In the night following the crash, Bulega reported inflammation and irritation in his shoulder. Ducati and Bulega then agreed to cancel the test that had been planned for Monday, when he was originally due to join Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer at the Red Bull Ring to continue work on the new 850cc Desmosedici.

The decision is aimed at preventing the shoulder issue from worsening through further high-speed MotoGP riding. Instead of returning to the prototype, Bulega will be given additional time to recover. The timing is particularly important because the next major commitment on his calendar is not MotoGP but the Superbike World Championship round in Cremona, coming up the following weekend.

With his Superbike season already well advanced, Bulega arrives at Cremona holding a comfortable advantage in the championship standings. The Italian is in a position to secure his first Superbike title there, and the team’s priority is to ensure he can focus fully on that objective without physical limitations.

By the time Cremona begins, there is little room for delay. Practice sessions with the Ducati Panigale V4R are scheduled to start on Friday, meaning Bulega’s recovery window is short. Ducati’s approach, according to the reporting, is to avoid unnecessary risk—rather than putting him back onto a machine capable of speeds above 300 km/h, they want him to be as fit as possible for the Superbike weekend.

The Mugello crash also interrupts Bulega’s longer-term MotoGP preparation. He is set to make the step up to MotoGP in 2027 with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team, piloting a Ducati Desmosedici GP. This year, he has been heavily involved in developing the new 850cc machine, including multiple tests with the updated Pirelli tyres, where his experience with the Italian manufacturer from his Supersport and Superbike days has been considered valuable.

For now, that development work will have to wait. The immediate focus is clear: Bulega’s shoulder needs to settle so he can return to the Panigale V4R in Cremona and continue his push toward a potential early championship clinch.