Nicolò Bulega makes MotoGP debut with Ducati Lenovo Team – replacing Marc Márquez in Portimao and Valencia

From junior classes to MotoGP debut

Bulega, born in Montecchio Emilia in 1999, began his motorsport career in the early 2000s. In 2011, he became both Italian and European MiniGP Junior 50 champion, followed by the PreGP 125 title in 2012 and the PreGP 250 title in 2013. In 2014, he competed in the Spanish championship and clinched overall victory in 2015. In the same year, he made his debut as a wildcard starter in the Moto3 World Championship.

In 2016, he contested his first full season in Moto3 and, as a rookie, secured a pole position and two podium finishes. In 2019, he moved to Moto2 and remained active in this class until the end of 2021.

Rise with Ducati: Supersport title and successes in the Superbike World Championship

In 2022, Bulega left the MotoGP paddock and joined Ducati. He competed in the Supersport World Championship for the Aruba.it Racing team, where he regularly brought the Panigale to the podium. In 2023, he made his breakthrough with ten pole positions and sixteen victories, securing him the title of Supersport World Champion. This earned him promotion to the Superbike World Championship, where he finished second as a rookie in 2024 – a result he was able to confirm in 2025.

MotoGP debut in anniversary race

Bulega’s MotoGP debut also coincides with a special event: his start in Portimao will be the 100th race of his world championship career (50 Moto3 races, 49 Moto2 races). He was able to test the Desmosedici GP for the first time at the Jerez test, and now he is set to race for the Ducati factory team.

In a statement, Bulega emphasized that competing in MotoGP is “every young rider’s dream.” He is calmly looking forward to his debut and wants to use the experience to develop further. He is deliberately keeping his expectations low, as he has had little time on the MotoGP bike so far. At the same time, he thanked Ducati and the Aruba.it Racing Team for their trust and support.

Ducati Corse is banking on Bulega’s development potential

Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, emphasized the close connection with Bulega since his move in 2022. Bulega has proven to be an important pillar in the Ducati lineup with strong performances in the Superbike World Championship and as Supersport Champion. Bulega is already scheduled to be a MotoGP test rider in 2026, where he will work with Michele Pirro to advance the development of the Desmosedici GP, particularly with regard to new tires. The two MotoGP races in Portugal and Valencia are considered ideal preparation for this new task.

Quick facts about Nicolò Bulega

Year of birth: 1999
Achievements: Supersport World Champion 2023, Superbike World Championship runner-up 2024 and 2025
World Championship starts: 100 (Moto3, Moto2, from Portimao MotoGP)
Greatest achievements in the 2023 Supersport World Championship: 10 pole positions, 16 victories