Ducati could ‘honour’ standout rider by asking him to replace Marc Marquez after Australian Grand Prix

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Michele Pirro will deputise for the injured Marc Marquez at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. But Ducati have yet to confirm their plans beyond that.

The world champion has already been ruled out of next week’s race in Malaysia, too. In fact, one expert thinks Marquez may need four months to recover from the accident involving Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia.

Precedent suggests he’ll try to return before that point, even if he has nothing to fight for in the remaining races. Marquez could target a comeback at the Valencia test, ensuring he doesn’t miss an opportunity to guide 2026 bike development.

Pirro was always the logical replacement in the meantime, but it’s noteworthy that Ducati haven’t locked him in for both rounds. They may be considering a bolder option.

Ducati ‘rumoured’ to be looking at Nicolo Bulega cameo amid Marc Marquez injury

According to Mundo Deportivo, Ducati are ‘rumoured’ to be considering Nicolo Bulega for one of the final three races. Bulega’s World Superbikes campaign concludes in Jerez this weekend.

The Italian has been one of the standout riders on Ducati’s books this season, winning 11 races and scoring 29 podiums in 33 starts. He’s been battling for the title with 2026 Pramac signing Toprak Razgatlioglu.

As such, Luigi Dall’Igna could ‘honour’ Bulega by inviting him to ride Marquez’s vacant bike. He’s already signed on as a test rider for 2026.

When asked last week, Bulega raised concerns about replacing Marquez with inadequate preparation. But if he does want to follow Razgatlioglu to Grand Prix racing eventually, this could be a precious career opportunity.

Luigi Dall’Igna may be lining up a MotoGP test for Nicolo Bulega

If Bulega does feature, it may be in Portugal or Valencia, rather than Malaysia. GPOne report that he could test Ducati’s MotoGP bike in Jerez at the end of the month.

That would potentially give him the mileage required to deliver a respectable showing at Portimao in early November. ‘Nothing is set in stone’, but there’s a case for Ducati to experiment, with all three championships already sealed.

Indeed, Dall’Igna is considering Bulega for a 2027 MotoGP seat, and this could be his first major audition. Francesco Bagnaia is vulnerable, as is factory-supported VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio.