Marco Bezzecchi
Luigi Dall’Igna and Ducati currently control four seats in MotoGP – two at the factory team, one at Gresini and one at VR46.
Ducati are inevitably trying to renew Marc Marquez’s contract, but they will wait to see if Francesco Bagnaia can recover before deciding whether to keep him.
Already contracted to Ducati, Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer is a strong contender to replace Bagnaia after an impressive rookie season. But there will also be high-profile external candidates for any vacancy.
You are Luigi Dall’Igna. Pick your SIX Ducati riders for the 2027 MotoGP season 👇
Meanwhile, at VR46, Fabio Di Giannantonio is likely to be fighting for his seat rather than pursuing his promotion. Like teammate Franco Morbidelli, he was somewhat underwhelming in 2025.
Michele Pirro thinks Nicolo Bulega could be ‘great’ in MotoGP
In an interview with Corriere Romagna, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was asked which ‘new rider’ he would suggest to the Ducati bosses ‘for the future’.
Ducati are setting up a new academy in the hope of developing talent aged 16 and above. Pirro is concerned about Italy’s MotoGP prospects, five years after the legendary Valentino Rossi retired.
But he is excited about Nicolo Bulega, who enters the year as the clear favourite for the World Superbikes title after reigning champion Toprak Razgatlioglu moved to Pramac’s MotoGP team.
Bulega, who deputised for the injured Marquez at the end of last season and scored points in both outings, has already joined Ducati’s MotoGP test team with a view to 2027.
Do you agree with Toprak Razgatlioglu that Nicolo Bulega deserves a MotoGP ride?
“Unfortunately, there aren’t many Italians [in Moto2 or Moto3] apart from [Moto2 rider Luca] Lunetta and [Moto3 rider] Guido Pini,” Pirro said. “Let’s hope that the V2 Future Champ academy can give us something.
“Bulega is coming, but he has to focus on Superbikes. If he does well in Superbikes, maybe in 2027 he can have a great season in MotoGP because he knows the Pirellis.”
VR46 is the obvious destination for Bulega, who used to be part of Rossi’s rider academy when racing in the lower Grand Prix classes. He still has a good relationship with The Doctor.
Michele Pirro says MotoGP race starts will become more chaotic in 2027
Dall’Igna is hoping to utilise Bulega’s experience on the Pirelli tyres from WSBK to guide Ducati’s development. If he does move to MotoGP, it could also give him an advantage over his competitors, who have become accustomed to Michelin rubber.
Indeed, Pirro thinks the tyre change will be more impactful than the overhaul of the technical regulations, though he does expect the ban on ride-height devices to create more unpredictable race starts.
“The bike will definitely be a little different, but I think the most important thing will be the tyres,” he said. “They’re changing from Michelin to Pirelli, and I think that will make a big difference.
“It certainly shuffles things round a bit. The changes to the aerodynamics will do something. The starts will be less precise because we won’t have ride-height devices. There will be more wheelies.”
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