Marco Bezzecchi
Nicolo Bulega’s plan for 2026 is to win the World Superbikes championship and then secure a MotoGP seat. But the market is moving even before the season has begun.
Reports suggest Fabio Quartararo has agreed to join Honda, sparking a series of moves. Jorge Martin could be his replacement, while Pedro Acosta may be bound for the factory Ducati squad.
Acosta would replace Francesco Bagnaia as Marc Marquez’s teammate, a ruthless call from Ducati bosses after Bagnaia’s desperate 2025 season.
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Speaking to outlets including GPOne, Bulega reiterated that his ‘goal’ is to ride a Desmosedici motorcycle. While it’s ‘a little’ problematic that riders are already making moves, he expects there to be a ‘second wave’ later in the year.
Pecco Bagnaia urged to join Aprilia over Ducati satellite team
Bulega also addressed the rumours about Bagnaia, a fellow graduate of Valentino Rossi’s academy. There have been suggestions that Bagnaia could join VR46 as an effective fallback.
But Bulega, who has been linked with one of those seats himself, says that Bagnaia should prioritise a factory spot.
Jorge Lorenzo thinks Bagnaia is an ‘excellent’ fit for Aprilia, and Bulega agrees. Yamaha have also been credited with an interest in the two-time MotoGP champion.
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“I think that if someone like Pecco doesn’t have a place in the factory Ducati, I don’t see why he should go to a privateer Ducati,” said Bulega. “I’d think that way, but maybe he thinks differently.
“If I were him, if I didn’t have a place in the factory Ducati, I’d try a complete change and maybe go to Aprilia or somewhere else.”
Nicolo Bulega reacts to Fabio Quartararo and Pedro Acosta moves
Finally, Bulega was asked about the rumoured Quartararo, Martin and Acosta moves, all of which still await confirmation.
He suspects that Quartararo is partly motivated by the substantial wages on offer at Honda, while Acosta is solely concerned with riding a winning bike.
Injury-hit Aprilia rider Martin has only just turned 28, but Bulega thinks Yamaha could give him his ‘last big contract’. Teammate Marco Bezzecchi has offered some sense of stability by signing an extension, and Marquez will do the same imminently.
“Quartararo has a huge contract, and perhaps only Honda can offer him something similar with a competitive bike,” Bulega said. “Acosta says he just wants to win, so Ducati would make sense.
“Martin could be aiming for one last big contract. Everything we hear makes sense, but we’ll have to see what actually happens.”
There’s a growing expectation that the most coveted riders will all make their decision before the season starts at the end of the month, but as Bulega says, there could still be some less desirable seats up for grabs afterwards.
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