NICCOLO BUGLEGA DENIES HE HAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE AHEAD OF HIS 2027 MOTOGP DEBUT

Nicolo Bulega has moved to shut down talk that he is being handed an “unfair advantage” ahead of his debut MotoGP season in 2027. With the Italian set to leave WorldSBK for MotoGP and join VR46 next year alongside Fermin Aldeguer, some observers have argued that Ducati’s extensive testing programme with the 850cc GP27 gives him a head start over other riders.

The debate was fuelled by the amount of time Bulega has reportedly been able to spend on the 2027-spec Ducati, with analysts such as Neil Hodgson suggesting that the extra track time could translate into an edge once the season begins. Luca Marini has also been among those to acknowledge the benefit, praising Valentino Rossi for helping Bulega arrive with more preparation.

Asked directly about the criticism and the scale of his test opportunities compared with other current MotoGP riders, Bulega delivered a blunt response. Speaking to Speedweek, he said that all riders on the grid will receive similar chances to familiarise themselves with the machinery before the campaign starts: “They will have four, five, or six days of testing before the season starts next year.” He added, “That will be enough.”

Bulega’s point was that the advantage being discussed is not unique to him. While he has had the opportunity to ride the 2027 Ducati bike ahead of the full MotoGP field, he argued that the broader grid will also have multiple test days before the 2027 season begins.

The article also notes that other riders have not necessarily had the same level of access to their future bikes during the build-up. Fabio Quartararo, for example, has lamented Yamaha’s decision not to allow him to test their 2027 machine, a situation linked to his expected move to Honda’s rivals next season.

Ultimately, the reasoning offered around Ducati’s approach is that Bulega is arriving from WorldSBK rather than from within MotoGP’s usual development pathway. Ducati, therefore, have reportedly focused on maximising his time with the 850cc GP27 to help smooth the transition and reduce the acclimatisation gap compared to riders who are already fully embedded in the class.