Bulega overcomes Superbike instincts to score on MotoGP debut, eyes 2027 chances

Nicolo Bulega, the World Superbike rider substituting for Marc Marquez aboard the factory Ducati, has revealed the extent to which he had to adjust his riding for the Michelin tyre used in MotoGP.

At the same time, he could be on the right side of that gulf when MotoGP switches to Pirelli rubber for 2027 – if he can land a ride.

Bulega scored a point with 15th place in a cautious but respectable MotoGP debut in Portugal last weekend. Among the Italian’s favourite topics at Portimao was the relative lack of performance from the Michelin front tyre under braking – as compared to the Pirelli used in World Superbike.

MotoGP switches its control tyre supplier from Michelin to Pirelli in 2027, which is part of the reason Ducati has enlisted Bulega to help develop its 2027 MotoGP challenger alongside his World Superbike campaign next year.

Having qualified 18th, Bulega failed to finish the Saturday sprint after a mistake under braking. But he said that focused his mind on recalibrating his expectations in this department ahead of his first full-length MotoGP race on Sunday.

“Honestly, for me today it was very important to finish the race, because yesterday I made an inexperienced mistake,” said Bulega after the grand prix. “My only target today was just to finish the race. On the first lap, I was very calm. I was just trying to warm the front tyre to understand how to brake.

Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“I was repeating to myself all race long, every time I braked, 'Don’t brake like it’s a Pirelli, don’t brake like it’s a Pirelli'. The Pirelli [World Superbike tyre] gives you more confidence. So for me it’s more difficult coming from Superbikes to MotoGP, because you come from a bike that gives you a lot of confidence to MotoGP with a Michelin that doesn’t give you a lot of confidence.

“I repeated in my mind all the race, 'Don’t brake like it’s a superbike, don’t brake like it’s a superbike!' So it was a bit difficult on the first lap. Then, when I caught Miguel Oliveira and the guys in front, I made a mistake at Turn 5. I went very wide and I lost two or three seconds.”

Setting his fastest lap on lap 23 of 25, when most riders did so early in the race, put Bulega’s learning curve in perspective.

“In the last laps, I was trying to adapt my riding style to the bike, and I think I understood some things that are interesting. I will try to [apply these] from the beginning [next weekend] in Valencia. My best lap was with two laps to go, when the tyre was already finished. I was catching the guys in front, but then the race was finished.

“So for me now, I’m not riding naturally. I’m thinking about what I have to do on the bike. When you ride like this, it’s difficult to go fast.”

With Marquez expected to be fit to reclaim his seat next season, the 2025 Valencia finale will be Bulega’s last MotoGP outing as things stand. But the Italian underlined ahead of the Portimao weekend that he was interested in a contract for 2027 – particularly with his World Superbike rival Toprak Razgatlioglu switching to the category next year.

Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Pirelli rubber and a rules reset would also make 2027 an attractive prospect, added Bulega.

“When I saw Toprak go to MotoGP and then I saw that in 2027 there will be the Pirelli tyre, I thought, 'I’m fighting with Toprak, he’s going to MotoGP, in 2027 there will be the Pirelli,' so my idea has changed a bit.

“So yes, I would like [to do MotoGP], especially in 2027, when the bikes will be a little easier and a little more similar to the superbike.”