Luigi Dall’Igna has now identified a ‘wildcard’ option for Ducati’s 2027 MotoGP rider line-up

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Ducati have already sealed all three 2025 MotoGP championships, so attention can turn to next year. And one of the big decisions Luigi Dall’Igna and co. have to make concerns his rider line-up.

Marc Marquez wants to stay at Ducati, and the team will surely be desperate to keep him after an all-conquering season. Provided there are no unforeseen contractual hurdles, that deal should get done quickly.

But Francesco Bagnaia’s future is uncertain. Bagnaia sees Ducati as his family and his two world titles make him a legend of the brand, but he has unravelled on and perhaps off the track this year.

Gresini rider Fermin Aldeguer is emerging as Ducati’s next big thing, having won his first Grand Prix in Indonesia. But as reported by GPOne, Dall’Igna is also considering a surprise option.

Luigi Dall’Igna has cast a ‘watchful eye’ to Nicolo Bulega

Two-time World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu is moving to MotoGP with Pramac next year, and it’s not out of the question that 2025 title rival Nicolo Bulega will follow him. Bulega has already agreed to become a Grand Prix test rider for Ducati in 2026.

And as Dall’Igna ‘comes to terms’ with Bagnaia’s poor season, he’s cast his ‘watchful eye’ at Bulega in the team’s WSBK arm. Fabio di Giannantonio, who’s currently riding a factory bike at VR46, is also vulnerable.

Ducati will outline their ‘vision’ for 2027 ‘in the coming months’, and Bulega could fit into it. It would be a ‘wildcard’ move, particularly as he failed to impress in Moto2 at the turn of the decade, recording a best championship result of 17th.

But Bulega has flourished in WSBK, winning 16 times and scoring 50 podiums in 66 starts. With 62 points up for grabs at the final round, he still has an outside chance of winning the title (he’s currently 39 adrift of Razgatlioglu).

Nicolo Bulega’s stance on filling in for injured Marc Marquez at Ducati

Marquez is out of at least the next two races – and potentially the remainder of the season – after breaking his collarbone in Indonesia and undergoing shoulder surgery afterwards.

Michele Pirro will replace Marquez in Australia, but Ducati haven’t confirmed their plans for any subsequent absences. With the WSBK season coming to an end this weekend, Bulega is theoretically available.

However, Bulega isn’t interested in replacing Marquez because he doesn’t see the benefit of doing so with so little preparation.

As for his future, it’s worth noting that Aprilia were linked with Bulega earlier this year, so a move to a rival manufacturer isn’t entirely out of the question.