Marco Bezzecchi
Nicolo Bulega believes Iker Lecuona performing “so well” as an injury replacement for Gresini’s Alex Marquez at Balaton Park is “good news” for his bid to move to MotoGP.
Bulega watched on with joy as his Ducati World Superbike teammate Lecuona made his first appearance in MotoGP since 2023 at last week’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Gresini called up the 26-year-old as Marquez currently faces an uncertain spell on the sidelines while recovering.
Marc Marquez says Alex is “looking better” following his surgery to insert a plate in his right shoulder. The 30-year-old also sustained a small fracture to his C7 vertebra in the Spaniard’s huge crash during the Catalan Grand Prix when he hit KTM’s Pedro Acosta at speed in May.
Does Iker Lecuona deserve to be in MotoGP?
Nicolo Bulega believes Iker Lecuona showed MotoGP what World Superbike riders can do
Ducati test rider Michele Pirro initially replaced Alex Marquez at the Italian Grand Prix, but a break in the World Superbike calendar allowed Lecuona to deputise at the Hungarian GP. He impressed, too, with the Spaniard securing seventh place in the feature race at Balaton Park.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Iker Lecuona from racing career to height
Bulega notes that Jorge Martin’s huge Turn 1 crash at Balaton Park helped Lecuona to claim P7, as it took several of the top contenders out of the Hungarian GP. But Bulega believes the pace that Lecuona had all weekend showed MotoGP what World Superbike riders can bring.
“I’m really pleased that Iker did so well,” Bulega told Sky Sports Italy. “It’s good news for me, and for Superbike too, because it shows that a rider who’s competitive in our championship can be competitive in MotoGP as well.
“It’s true that there were several crashes during the race that affected the final result, but it’s equally true that he was fast all weekend. By the end of the race, he’d managed to pull away from riders far more experienced than him.”
Nicolo Bulega feels ‘Ducati’s support’ as he seeks a ‘dream’ move to MotoGP in 2027
Bulega is still striving to secure a permanent move to MotoGP for 2027, when the series will introduce a host of regulation changes including 850cc engines and a ban on the ride height devices. MotoGP will even drop Michelin to run Pirelli tyres, which Bulega races on in WSBK.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Nicolo Bulega from height to career
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It is said that VR46 will sign Bulega for the 2027 MotoGP season, after Valentino Rossi chose the World Superbike Championship’s dominant rider to replace Franco Morbidelli. His speed in Ducati’s 850cc tests is thought to have been a big factor in Rossi’s decision to get Bulega.
At the moment, however, Bulega cannot confirm whether he will be realising his “dream” of becoming a permanent MotoGP rider next year. The 26-year-old is working hard to secure a move to the prototype series, and he thinks it is “important” that he has Ducati’s “support”.
Bulega said: “At the moment, I can’t say much. We’re working on it, and I feel I have Ducati’s support at this stage. It’s important for me to feel their support, because it means they still believe in me, perhaps even beyond Superbike, and that gives me a lot of motivation.
“It’s still too early to talk specifically about certain situations, but my dream has always been to make it to MotoGP. We’re working towards that, and we hope to succeed.”
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