Marco Bezzecchi
VR46 are expected to field a brand new line-up for the 2027 MotoGP season, and Nicolo Bulega is hoping to secure his first full-time ride in the premier class for its new era of regulations.
After taking over from Michele Pirro as Marc Marquez’s replacement at the factory Ducati team in the latter stages of the 2025 MotoGP season, rumours of Nicolo Bulega joining the premier class in 2027 have been rife.
The Italian rider is fulfilling his duties as a World Superbikes rider for Ducati this year, and with long-time rival Toprak Razgatlioglu now a MotoGP rider, his path to the title in the production motorcycle racing category looks clear.
2027 may actually be the best possible time for Bulega to make the switch. A new era of MotoGP regulations also brings in Pirelli as the premier class’s new tyre supplier, which could play into Bulega’s hands, considering WSBK have used the Italian manufacturer since 2004.
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Uccio Salucci doesn’t see a reason why VR46 shouldn’t sign Nicolo Bulega for the 2027 MotoGP season
During an interview with MotoGP content creator Nicholas Fontana at the Motosprint Golden Helmets awards, VR46 team boss Uccio Salucci was asked about the possibility of Bulega joining the team for the 2027 term.
The Italian rider was previously part of the VR46 Riders’ Academy during the opening years of his professional career, so he is a well-known figure inside the team’s operations.
When asked if he is inclined to sign the 26-year-old, Salucci said, “Look, Nicolo is a rider we’ve known since he was a child, so that’s his value.
“Now he’s also sorted out those other things that weren’t working at the time, so why not?
“I repeat, there are many options, probably as I said before, for me it’s my two riders, Franco and Fabio, and I’d like to go fast with them.”
It’s a development on what Ducati’s CEO has previously said about bringing the WSBK star over to MotoGP. Claudio Domenicali previously highlighted how convincing Ducati’s satellite teams to sign Bulega is ‘complicated’.
However, Salucci’s recent comments suggest that it may not be as complicated as the executive once thought.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu thinks Nicolo Bulega would thrive in MotoGP
Bulega shared an intense title fight with Razgatlioglu during last year’s World Superbikes championship, which culminated in the Turkish rider securing his third title in the category.
MotoGP’s latest rookie is well aware of his former rival’s talents, and Razgatlioglu has even urged Ducati to bring Bulega over to the premier class for next year’s term.
There has been a lot of discussion about the adaptation period that WSBK riders need when they transition over to prototype machinery, with Razgatlioglu’s riding style being in the spotlight ahead of his debut term.
However, the 29-year-old believes Bulega’s riding style is much more suited to what MotoGP prototypes demand, indicating that he could potentially thrive in the premier class if he does end up making the switch.
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