Marco Bezzecchi
Franco Morbidelli and Jack Miller look certain to leave MotoGP at the end of the 2026 season, yet the former can still land on his feet in the World Superbike Championship.
The MotoGP market rider seems to have moved away from Morbidelli and Miller as the final seats on the 2027 grid are being sealed by rival riders, both in and outside of the paddock. It is widely believed that Nicolo Bulega will now get Morbidelli’s MotoGP seat at VR46 in 2027.
Morbidelli is out of contract directly to VR46 once the 2026 MotoGP season finishes. Miller faces a similar fate to the Italian, as the Australian is out of contract to ride for Pramac on a factory Yamaha deal this year, and his hopes for staying in the prototype bike series are low.
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Trackhouse were Miller’s final MotoGP lifeline for 2027 after the Australian emerged as one of the names on their radar. But as fast as those claims surfaced, other reports materialised that Trackhouse will sign Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini to form their all-new 2027 line-up.
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There appears to be no room at the MotoGP inn for Morbidelli, either, as reports now claim VR46 are finalising a contract with Ducati for Bulega to complete their 2027 line-up. But the idea of Bulega joining VR46 for 2027 may open a door at Ducati’s WSBK team for Morbidelli.
That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports that Morbidelli is ‘among the names’ in Ducati’s thoughts for their 2027 World Superbike line-up, given that Bulega is likely moving to MotoGP. Morbidelli also attended WSBK’s round at Misano with Ducati bosses last week.
Morbidelli was spotted in the World Superbike paddock with Ducati general manager Luigi Dall’Igna, sporting director Mauro Grassilli and technical director Davide Barana. He is not certain to get Bulega’s WSBK ride in 2027, but he has seemingly passed Miller in the queue.
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It was previously believed that Miller was likely to join Ducati’s 2027 World Superbike team if Bulega realises his dreams of a move to MotoGP. Yet Morbidelli would now fit better than Miller into the plans that Ducati chief Grassilli revealed at World Superbikes’ Misano round.
Grassilli has confirmed that Ducati’s “wish” is for an Italian rider to replace Bulega in World Superbikes next year. He even noted that the Borgo Panigale brand view Iker Lecuona as an heir apparent to Bulega as their WSBK team’s leader, suggesting they are looking for a No2.
How willing Morbidelli is to adopt the role of number two to Lecuona may play a key role in his potential move to World Superbikes with Ducati, and what hopes (if any) Miller can have about it being his next move. If Morbidelli says yes, it remains to be seen where Miller goes.
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