NICOLO BUGLEGA CONFIRMED AS VR46 DUCATI RIDER FOR 2027 850CC/PIRELLI ERA

Nicolo Bulega has been officially confirmed as Ducati’s final MotoGP rider for the 2027 season, completing the Italian manufacturer’s line-up for the new 850cc/Pirelli era. The 26-year-old, currently a WorldSBK star and “champion-elect” in the report, will return to VR46, the team where he began his world championship career as a Moto3 rider in 2016.

Bulega’s move brings an end to a period of Ducati development work in parallel with his WorldSBK commitments. The report notes that he has been helping the factory’s 850cc/Pirelli prototype programme, gaining early experience that could prove valuable as MotoGP transitions away from Michelin.

For 2027, Bulega is set to join a Ducati roster that includes Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta, Joan Mir, Dani Holgado, and Fermin Aldeguer—alongside Bulega as the only Italian in the group. The confirmation also places Bulega alongside a future VR46 team-mate: Fermin Aldeguer is already listed as part of the 2027 Ducati plans.

The announcement follows Bulega’s MotoGP involvement last year, when he made his premier-class debut as a replacement for the injured Marc Marquez in the final rounds. That opportunity came after a career path that has seen him move through multiple categories before finding his stride.

The report outlines how Bulega arrived in grand prix racing as the reigning CEV Moto3 champion. With VR46, he secured two podiums and finished seventh overall in his rookie season. After that, his results dipped—dropping to 12th the following year and then 26th—prompting VR46 to promote him to Moto2 in 2019. In Moto2, he finished 17th overall, and the report says he later split from Valentino Rossi’s operation to join Italtrans, but results again failed to improve. Eventually, Bulega was forced to restart his career in World Supersport in 2022.

That reset proved decisive. According to the report, Bulega was immediately competitive on the Ducati World Supersport machinery and then dominated the 2023 season. His momentum carried into WorldSBK in 2024, where he won on debut at Phillip Island and began a two-year battle with Toprak Razgatlioglu. While Razgatlioglu ultimately got the upper hand in both seasons, the report highlights that Bulega was the only rider able to consistently challenge the BMW rider, winning six of their final eight races together.

With Razgatlioglu moving to MotoGP for 2026, Bulega’s WorldSBK profile has continued to rise. The report states that he has won 26 races so far, with his only defeat being a second place to team-mate and former MotoGP rider Iker Lecuona at Donington Park.

The 2027 Ducati confirmation also sets up a broader reshuffle across the paddock. Current VR46 MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli is expected to “effectively swap seats” with Bulega by joining the Aruba.it Ducati squad in WorldSBK for 2027. Meanwhile, Fabio di Giannantonio is already confirmed at Red Bull KTM for the new 850cc/Pirelli era, meaning Ducati’s 2027 plans will be anchored by a mix of established names and new faces.

Bulega’s arrival in MotoGP also frames a Rookie of the Year storyline for the 2027 campaign. The report says he will battle for the award against Moto2 graduates David Alonso at Honda, Dani Holgado at Gresini, Izan Guevara at Pramac, and the still-to-be-confirmed Senna Agius at Tech3. With Pirelli knowledge potentially offering an advantage, the report adds that established premier-class riders will have to adapt as the championship moves from Michelin to Pirelli.