Nicolo Bulega suffered a heavy crash during Ducati’s two-day test of its 850cc MotoGP motorcycle at Mugello. GPOne reports that the Ducati rider high-sided at the Arrabbiata 2 section at around midday on Wednesday. He was taken to a nearby hospital for medical checks, which found no fractures. Bulega was then discharged and returned home to recover.

The incident now puts his next planned outing under a question mark. Bulega was due to ride on the Monday after the Austrian Grand Prix in Pirelli’s second in-season tyre test for the 850cc machines. His participation is now considered unlikely. The timing is also significant because the WorldSBK field heads to Cremona the following weekend.

A setback at an important point in the programme

Bulega has won every WorldSBK race in 2026 except one, and Cremona offers him a chance to secure the championship with three rounds still remaining. That competitive situation could influence Ducati’s testing plans: the manufacturer may prefer to see its rider complete the title campaign before putting him back on the MotoGP prototype.

Bulega is a significant part of Ducati’s 2027 development effort and is expected to make his full-time MotoGP debut with VR46 that year. The 850cc Ducati is already being described as an early favourite ahead of the 2027 regulation change. VR46 announced Bulega’s deal before the San Marino Grand Prix, after Fabio Di Giannantonio’s KTM agreement opened a route to the seat. Bulega began his Grand Prix career with VR46 in Moto3 in 2016, later separated from the VR46 Academy during his Moto2 period and rebuilt his career in WorldSBK.