Ducati plans Bulega test ahead of possible Marquez sub appearance

Ducati has arranged a test for Nicolo Bulega at Jerez next week, with a view to replacing world champion Marc Marquez at the final two races of the year.

The Italian factory confirmed on Thursday that Marquez will not be able to return for the Portuguese and Valencian rounds that conclude the season, opening the door to the mooted Bulega race appearance, which has been a hot paddock topic for several days already.

Ducati has replaced Marquez with current test rider Michele Pirro for the first two races following his Mandalika crash – last weekend’s Australian round and the ongoing Malaysian Grand Prix.

But now that Bulega has concluded his 2025 campaign for the factory in WorldSBK, where he finished second to Toprak Razgatlioglu, the stars could be aligning for Bulega to make his MotoGP debut in Portugal in two weeks. Bulega has already been announced as a MotoGP test rider for Ducati in 2026 – when he will also continue in superbikes.

Although this new test role wasn’t expected to be implemented so early, as it was more geared toward testing the new Pirelli tyres that will be introduced in MotoGP in 2027, Marquez’s injury, along with the Ducati factory already having wrapped up all three possible MotoGP titles, offers it a good opportunity to understand Bulega’s level with the GP bike.

Bulega could take Marquez's spot alongside Francesco Bagnaia at the final two rounds

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

The private test day at Jerez will allow Bulega to acclimatise to the GP25, a bike he has never been able to ride before.

For 26-year-old Bulega, the two grands prix that follow the test may be his only opportunity to ride a MotoGP bike in the medium to long term, as Ducati is not allowed to run additional wildcard riders under the current concessions system.

The Jerez test will be possible despite Ducati’s tight concessions status – because the Andalucian venue is one of its three nominated test circuits and Bulega is not one of its regular 2025 race riders.