The MotoGP world is buzzing right now, and if you thought this season couldn’t get any more thrilling, think again. Nicolo Bulega, the Italian speedster who’s been tearing up the World Superbike Championship, has just made his MotoGP test debut, and the buzz is loud that he might be stepping in for none other than Marc Marquez. Yep, you heard that right! But, how? Let’s find out.
Who Is Nicolo Bulega?
Let’s set the scene. Nicolo Bulega, who finished impressively second in the 2025 WorldSBK standings behind Toprak Razgatlioglu, has been tearing up tracks on a Ducati in the Superbike world. Now, he’s got a chance to throw his hat into the MotoGP ring. Ducati has confirmed that Bulega completed a gruelling test session at the legendary Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, hopping aboard the formidable Ducati Desmosedici GP25. For three solid hours, the 26-year-old was all business, pushing limits, learning the nuances of the MotoGP beast, no doubt with serious eyes on the prize.
Why All this Fuss?
Marc Marquez, the six-time MotoGP world champion and a true titan on the grid, is sidelined after a nasty shoulder injury sustained at the Indonesian Grand Prix. This has left a massive void in the Ducati Lenovo Team line-up. Michele Pirro, Ducati’s official test rider, has been filling in but hasn’t exactly set the track on fire in Marquez’s absence. So, Ducati’s thinking, why not give Bulega a shot? He’s hungry, talented, and already part of their testing program heading into the new 2026 regulations.
Nicolo Bulega himself isn’t rushing into anything. He’s been very clear that he needs to get comfortable with the MotoGP machinery before realistically expecting to race. The jump from WorldSBK to MotoGP isn’t a small one; the technology, the power, the tires, and the sheer speed demand a different edge.
But after this test, he’s got that all-important experience under his belt. Ducati’s team manager, Davide Tardozzi, stressed that this test wasn’t just a quick spin; it’s about building confidence for Nicolo Bulega to support the new MotoGP bike development next year and potentially debut in the final two rounds of 2025, the Portuguese GP at Portimao and the season closer in Valencia.
So, stay tuned because this story is far from over. Nicolo Bulega’s MotoGP journey is just kicking off, and if his test is anything to go by, we’re in for some serious fireworks on the track. The smooth operator might just be ready to take MotoGP by storm.
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