Valentino Rossi signed Nicolo Bulega for VR46 after ‘astonishing’ behind-closed-doors testing

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Nicolo Bulega’s eye-catching pace in MotoGP testing has contributed to his reported move to VR46 for the 2027 season.

It has been widely reported in recent days that Bulega will get the VR46 seat alongside Fermin Aldeguer, whose impending arrival from Gresini has been an open secret for a while.

Fabio Di Giannantonio is moving to KTM, while Franco Morbidelli could drop off the MotoGP grid entirely. Bulega has reached an agreement while dominating the World Superbikes championship in record-breaking fashion with 22 consecutive victories.

Which series will benefit more from Nicolo Bulega’s move: MotoGP or Superbikes?

Bulega has run away with this year's WSBK championship

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Nicolo Bulega blitzed MotoGP test riders in Ducati 850cc session

According to Speedweek, ‘all that’s missing’ from Bulega’s MotoGP contract is a signature. Rossi has made his decision, overlooking Morbidelli, half-brother Luca Marini and academy rider Celestino Vietti.

While his WSBK performances have clearly enhanced his reputation and he commendably scored points while deputising for an injured Marc Marquez at the end of 2025, his pace in testing proved to be the ‘main argument’ in his favour.

He joined the Ducati test team this year and has ‘astonished everyone’ at Borgo Panigale. In a recent outing on the 2027 prototype, projected to be considerably slower than the current bikes, Bulega got within two seconds of Francesco Bagnaia’s lap record at Misano.

He was also between one to two seconds faster than KTM’s Dani Pedrosa, Yamaha’s Augusto Fernandez and Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori, who were also riding 850cc motorcycles in the private session.

Bulega was previously part of the VR46 Academy, but they parted ways at the end of 2019 after his disappointing rookie campaign in Moto2.

By the time he joins as a fully-fledged MotoGP rider, he will have Supersport and Superbike world titles behind him.

Bulega will renew his rivalry with Toprak Razgatlioglu in Grand Prix racing. Both riders could have an advantage next year due to their past experience on Pirelli tyres.