Nicolo Bulega will contest his first full MotoGP season in 2027 after being chosen by VR46 to replace Franco Morbidelli. Morbidelli’s departure from the team has been confirmed, while he is expected to leave MotoGP at the end of 2026. Bulega is set to join Fermin Aldeguer, who is identified as a current Gresini Racing rider.

The move gives Bulega a full-time return to the Grand Prix paddock from 2022. He spent the 2017–2021 period in Moto3 and Moto2 before changing direction in World Supersport. His rookie campaign there ended with third place in 2022, followed by the championship in 2023. That success led to a seat with the factory Aruba.it Ducati operation in WorldSBK.

Bulega made an immediate impression in WorldSBK by winning at Phillip Island on his debut. The second victory took another 21 races, but he subsequently became a regular front-runner. He finished second behind Toprak Razgatlioglu in his first season and secured the runner-up position again in 2025.

A formidable platform for the move

His form before the MotoGP switch is difficult to overlook. Bulega has won 26 of the first 27 WorldSBK races in 2026 and leads Iker Lecuona by 146 points with three rounds still to run. Those figures put him on course for the title, but they cannot guarantee how quickly he will adapt to a different category and paddock.

Stefano Cecconi, Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Team Principal, said Bulega’s development had gone beyond the team’s expectations and reflected its approach of building progress step by step. He also said the rider had earned the team’s trust and respect. Before their partnership ends, Cecconi indicated that one final objective remains, giving the team a clear reason to pursue a strong conclusion to the season.