At the 2024 World Ducati Week held last weekend at the Misano World Circuit, Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi named Nicolò Bulega as the brand’s future MotoGP star. According to Tardozzi, Bulega is poised to make a “seismic leap” in Ducati’s long-term MotoGP project aligned with new technical regulations scheduled for 2027.
According to the official MotoGP release, Bulega will work alongside experienced test rider Michele Pirro to develop the Desmosedici MotoGP machine, which will race under new technical regulations scheduled to take effect in 2027. Ducati’s plan, as outlined by team manager Davide Tardozzi, is for Bulega to gain the necessary experience and tyre knowledge during his test-rider role to play a central role in the 2027 bike’s development.
Ducati confirmed on June 10, 2025, that Nicolò Bulega signed a contract to become the brand’s MotoGP test rider for the 2026 season, while continuing to compete with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati in the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK).
Tardozzi, speaking at the 2024 World Ducati Week (WDW) event held at the Misano World Circuit, described Bulega as Ducati’s “future MotoGP star” and said the rider is set to make a “seismic leap” in alignment with Ducati’s long-term MotoGP project. Tardozzi has repeatedly highlighted Bulega’s speed and development potential in public statements, emphasizing that the 2026 test-rider season will prepare him to lead the next-generation Desmosedici’s development. “He will be the guy who will develop the bike, because we think that Nicolo will have in 2026 the experience and the speed to do this with the tyres,” Tardozzi said in an interview during the 2025 Portuguese Grand Prix weekend at Portimão.
Bulega’s role as a test rider is part of a strategic two-pillar structure for Ducati’s 2026–2027 MotoGP development cycle, with Pirro providing long-term testing expertise and Bulega contributing his current racing speed and adaptability. Ducati officials have linked Bulega’s success in WorldSBK, where he is the current championship leader as of mid-2025, to the decision to entrust him with MotoGP test duties. The official MotoGP communication described Bulega as “attuale leader della classifica delle derivate di serie,” underscoring his championship-contending form in WorldSBK as a factual basis for his promotion.
In addition to his test-rider responsibilities, Ducati has considered Bulega for a potential MotoGP race debut as an injury replacement. With Marc Márquez likely to miss the 2025 Portuguese Grand Prix due to injury, Tardozzi confirmed to Motorsport.com that giving Bulega a MotoGP start at Portimão was “a possibility,” though he stressed that Bulega’s immediate priority remained fighting for the WorldSBK Championship in Jerez. “We will study the possibility,” Tardozzi said, adding that the rider “shouldn’t be distracted from that goal.” This injury-replacement scenario illustrates Ducati’s confidence in Bulega, placing him on the shortlist of riders trusted to race the Desmosedici beyond his test-rider role.
Media coverage and paddock analysis from early 2025 have noted instances where Bulega’s lap times were competitive with established MotoGP champions, supporting Tardozzi’s characterization of him as a future star. His temporary MotoGP outings, including stepping in for injured riders, have demonstrated strong pace and adaptability across tyres and machinery, reinforcing his suitability for the test-rider position and potential future race seat.
The World Ducati Week event, held as part of Ducati’s 2024–2025 centenary celebrations at Misano, served as a platform for the brand to showcase its history and signal future sporting plans. According to reports, the event was described as a “showcase of power, ambition and intriguing suggestions about Ducati’s future in MotoGP.” Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi, a former Italian Superbike rider and WorldSBK team boss, used the occasion to publicly position Bulega as a key figure in Ducati’s long-term MotoGP strategy centered on the 2027 technical regulation changes.
Ducati’s use of WDW extends beyond fan engagement to include messaging about rider development, test-team structure, and future MotoGP line-ups. Tardozzi’s remarks at WDW went beyond routine praise, deliberately signaling Bulega’s trajectory from test rider to premier-class contender. MotoGP.com’s multi-language reporting framed Bulega as a “key figure” in Ducati’s 2027 development cycle, tasked with accumulating test experience to lead the development of the 2027-spec Desmosedici, particularly in understanding the new tyre and technical package.
Collectively, Ducati’s official statements, contract details, and Tardozzi’s public comments position Nicolò Bulega as a central protagonist in the brand’s post-2027 MotoGP strategy. The rider’s dual role as WorldSBK contender and MotoGP test rider reflects Ducati’s approach to bridging Superbike performance with MotoGP development, aiming to sustain competitiveness and innovation into the new regulatory era.
