Marco Bezzecchi
Nicolo Bulega still isn’t guaranteed a MotoGP seat despite a spot opening at Ducati satellite squad VR46, according to a report.
It emerged on Sunday that Fabio Di Giannantonio is moving to KTM after being offered a factory ride next to Alex Marquez. This appears to be the vacancy that Bulega, the runaway World Superbikes leader, has been waiting for.
The Italian is hoping to follow Toprak Razgatlioglu to MotoGP, but with a factory move out of the question, Gresini have shown little interest in Bulega. That left VR46 as his only option.
Rate KTM’s move for Fabio Di Giannantonio out of 10!
Valentino Rossi has already signed Fermin Aldeguer, so Bulega’s hopes of riding a Ducati GP27 rested on Di Giannantonio.
Valentino Rossi could still deny Nicolo Bulega a VR46 seat despite Fabio Di Giannantonio’s exit
As reported by Motorsport, Bulega’s Ducati test rider contract ‘promises’ him a future MotoGP seat. A source at the team told the publication that the 26-year-old is the ‘main option’ to replace Di Giannantonio.
However, the ‘complicating’ factor is that Luca Marini is not yet guaranteed a seat for next season. Honda are reportedly forming a new factory line-up featuring Fabio Quartararo and Moto2 star David Alonso.
With Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira already under contract for 2027 at LCR, Marini’s only hope of staying within the Honda stable is the manufacturer fielding more bikes. And now that KTM are progressing in talks with Tech3, this looks unlikely.
With Fabio Di Giannantonio moving to KTM, who should Valentino Rossi target?
Fermin Aldeguer is already filling one of the seats
Rossi could offer his half-brother a safety net by bringing him back to VR46, where he previously raced in 2022 and 2023. However, this would carry financial penalties.
VR46 would have to cover his salary, whereas Ducati would likely pay Bulega themselves. They would also lose out on a discounted GP27, the incentive for fielding a factory-backed rider like Aldeguer.
Valentino Rossi has history with Nicolo Bulega
Bulega used to ride for VR46 in the lower classes as a member of the academy, but he left in 2019.
While their professional relationship may have ended, Bulega said there was no rift with Rossi. Instead, there is a sense of gratitude towards the MotoGP legend for giving him a platform in the first place.
Bulega questioned the VR46 structure in the past, suggesting that the riders needed independent managers, but he now says this problem has been solved.
Despite his past connection with Rossi, it will be difficult for The Doctor to overlook Marini if he doesn’t land a seat elsewhere.
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