Marco Bezzecchi
Nicolo Bulega acknowledges that he won’t have the same popularity if he leaves World Superbikes for MotoGP in 2027.
Bulega is running away with this year’s WSBK championship, having extended his record-breaking win streak to 25 races with a Misano sweep last weekend. He is 121 points clear of Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona.
However, Bulega is expected to join VR46 in MotoGP next year, which would see him abdicate the throne. He’s the favourite for the seat alongside Fermin Aldeguer.
Nicolo Bulega: Like Pecco Bagnaia, I would need time to earn fans in MotoGP
Bulega is happy in WSBK, understandably given his results, but has made clear that joining former rival Toprak Razgatlioglu in MotoGP is his main goal.
However, he recognises that he won’t see as many ‘t-shirts and flags’ cheering him on if he does make the move. He will have to earn that kind of following in a new championship.
Would Nicolo Bulega completing an unbeaten World Superbike season eclipse Toprak Razgatlioglu’s career achievements in WSBK?
The same thing, he said, happened with fellow VR46 academy graduate Francesco Bagnaia when he broke into the premier class following his
“I’m doing everything I can to try to make this leap,” he said, via MOW. “For now, I’m happy with my performances and what I’m demonstrating.
“[The fans] are fantastic here, but I know full well that if I were to go to MotoGP, there would be fewer for me. There are some great champions here, and it’s right that they have so many fans.
“Here in Superbike, year after year, I’ve seen the number of my t-shirts and flags grow: this year there were really a lot. If I were to make the leap, it will take some time there too, and results will be needed, because without results it’s difficult to build a following.
“But I think everyone who came to MotoGP from Moto2 needed time before seeing so many fans with their colours. Pecco himself, Quartararo, and all the other established champions today have been there.
“I don’t think they had the following in their first year that they have today after so many seasons. Like everything, it takes time.”
Neil Hodgson was concerned about Razgatlioglu coming into the 2026 season because he would no longer be the ‘star’ after switching to the Grand Prix paddock.
Pramac rider Razgatlioglu sits 22nd in the championship after eight rounds with just nine points, though Bulega would expect the 2027 Ducati to be more competitive than this year’s Yamaha.
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