The 26-year-old Italian rider Nicolo Bulega officially steps onto the MotoGP grid for the 2027 season with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team. This move returns him under the shadow of Valentino Rossi, where he made his first step in a Grand Prix career. This transfer signifies the completion of a major cycle in the Italian rider's career. With the current season concluding, Nicolo Bulega will compete for Aruba.it Ducati in place of Franco Morbidelli. During this process, Bulega maintains his commitment to the Ducati brand while transitioning from the Panigale V4R model to the Desmosedici prototype in the MotoGP class.
Career Turning Points
Nicolo Bulega has experienced significant turning points in his career. Raised within the VR46 Riders Academy founded by Valentino Rossi during his youth, Bulega competed in Moto3 and Moto2. These early years were bright for the Moto3 season; the young rider achieved podium finishes twice and secured pole positions in qualifying sessions. However, he failed to achieve his desired results in the subsequent two seasons. In 2021, he moved to the Gresini team but failed to secure a podium there. At the end of the 2021 season, he said goodbye to the Grand Prix paddock. For that period in his MotoGP dream, it seemed unattainable.
World Championships and Achievements
Bulega experienced a true turning point in his career by transitioning to production motorcycle championships. He began his pursuit of the World Supersport Championship with Ducati in 2022 and completed his first year in fourth place. However, his performance reached a new level in 2023. Bulega secured the World Supersport Championship cup by achieving a total of 16 race victories with the Ducati Panigale V2. This superior performance convinced the Borgo Panigale management. Ducati promoted Bulega to the factory Superbike lineup for 2024. Our representative, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, became our pride in Bulega's pursuit of the pinnacle. Bulega proved that he is one of the fastest riders in the World Superbike Championship with the Panigale V4R. With Toprak’s transition to MotoGP, Ducati became the ultimate championship contender for the current season. For Bulega, winning the World Superbike Championship has now become a formality.
Technical Advantages and Confidence
Bulega possesses significant knowledge in the development processes of his new motorcycle. Michelin, the Italian tire manufacturer, will be the official tire supplier for the MotoGP class starting in 2027. Bulega is positioned as the pilot who best understands these tires, based on the experience he gained in the World Supersport and World Superbike Championships. When these factors come together, it is clear that Bulega did not start his MotoGP journey unprepared. The Italian rider knows the Ducati brand, the working pace of the engineers in the garage, and the Pirelli tires intimately.
The VR46 Connection
One of the elements that makes this deal special is the emotional bond. Nicolo Bulega is officially returning to the VR46 team, where he first stepped onto the world championship stage over ten years ago. This journey aimed at climbing the Moto3, Moto2, and then directly MotoGP levels had been a dream for that period. Bulega reached his goal not by taking a shortcut, but through a challenging and arduous route. The World Supersport Championship was the move that resurrected his career. Thanks to these achievements, Bulega managed to move to the premier class he deserved.
Reflecting on his return to the VR46 family and his career journey, Bulega said:
Reaching MotoGP was a dream, and making that start with VR46 makes it even more special.
After transitioning to the World Supersport Championship in 2022, Bulega became champion in the 2023 season by establishing dominance. Starting his career in WorldSBK in 2024, Bulega battled alongside Toprak Razgatlıoğlu for two seasons. In the 2026 season when our representative Toprak transitioned to MotoGP, Bulega showed consistent performance and secured supremacy by winning 26 out of the races he entered.
Reflecting on his return to the VR46 family and his career journey, Bulega said:
I chose this team because the bond with them never broke. I was in the VR46 Academy when I was a child, so I know everyone on the team very well.
Reflecting on his return to the VR46 family and his career journey, Bulega said:
Taking this step with people I know and trust makes the process easier from many angles. Moreover, they are all extremely professional figures in their respective fields.
The 26-year-old rider expressed his expectations and thanks in his first MotoGP season with these words:
When I first started racing, my only goal was to reach MotoGP. However, over time and for various reasons, my career took a different direction; I moved to WorldSBK and focused on building a successful career there.
Bulega expressed his heartfelt thanks to VR46, Ducati Corse, and Aruba for giving him this opportunity that turned his dreams into reality:
I sincerely thank VR46, Ducati Corse, and Aruba for giving me this opportunity that turned my dreams into reality.
The team's other rider, Fabio di Giannantonio, has agreed to a deal with Red Bull KTM for the new season.
Figures
- Archive: Bulega Won Superpole Race (September 6, 2026)
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