Nicolo Bulega’s manager is filled with ‘anguish’ at the idea of his rider replacing Marc Marquez at Ducati

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Nicolo Bulega is in with a shot of getting an opportunity in MotoGP atop the most dominant bike on the grid in 2025. However, his manager has disclosed why the proposal fills him with ‘anguish’.

Marc Marquez’s 2025 MotoGP campaign has been cut short due to the broken collarbone he sustained during an incident with Marco Bezzecchi at the Grand Prix of Indonesia in October.

Michele Pirro took the reins of Marquez’s Ducati in Australia and Malaysia, with Bulega being looked at as the man to get an opportunity in the final two rounds of the season in Portimao and Valencia.

Ducati’s World Superbikes star previously expressed his disinterest in replacing the injury-stricken Marquez, mainly down to the fact that he was locked into a title fight with future MotoGP rider Toprak Razgatlioglu in the premier class of the production motorcycle racing category.

READ MORE: ‘Incredible’ rider turned Ducati down after they asked him to replace Marc Marquez at Malaysian Grand Prix

Nicolo Bulega’s manager is wary of his client replacing Marc Marquez in MotoGP at Portimao and Valencia

However, Bulega quickly changed his tune on a Ducati MotoGP ride, requesting that he would first have an opportunity to test the bike in a private session so he could make the most of his debut appearance in the premier class.

In an interview with GPOne, Bulega’s representative, Alberto Martinelli, revealed his sentiments on the idea of his rider competing atop a bike that has proved to be incredibly difficult to adapt to, as shown through the performances of Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio this year.

He said, “I don’t deny that I’m living this moment with great tension. In the end, racing in the MotoGP on that Ducati is the goal of a lifetime; right now, you can’t aspire to more than that.

“The fact is that he doesn’t know the GP25 and would be making his debut in conditions that aren’t entirely optimal.

“All of this creates anguish for me, because there hasn’t been an approach, as we initially thought. On the one hand, I wonder, will he surprise us?

“On the other hand, I don’t deny that I’m a little afraid because, first of all, he’s riding a bike with Michelin tyres that have never been used. Also, there are the shapeshifters, the carbon brakes.

“Certainly, everyone is curious to see what’s going to happen. Let’s say there’s a mix between anticipation and the fact that Nicolo can’t really show his true potential.”

READ MORE: Nicolo Bulega privately fears that replacing injured Marc Marquez at Ducati could ‘jeopardise’ his career

Michele Pirro failed to make a mark during his substitute appearances atop Marc Marquez’s Ducati in MotoGP

During his two-week tenure as Marquez’s replacement at the factory Ducati team, Pirro failed to make any sort of impression as he roamed around in the final finishing positions of each race he competed in.

This was to be expected, however. With minimal race experience atop the GP25 and his position as a test rider for the Borgo Panigale-based team, Pirro was instead given a ‘goal’ to help Bagnaia figure out the struggles he has been enduring in 2025.

After the 28-year-old retired from the podium positions at the most recent race weekend in Malaysia, Pirro was caught advising Bagnaia on how to move on from the setback he’d received after such a positive Saturday.

Despite the lack of any meaningful result for the veteran Italian rider, his presence within the garage and constructive feedback can be considered extremely valuable for Ducati as they look to finish the season on the same high note that saw them win all three championships earlier in the year.