Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Move Gets Valentino Rossi’s Backing

Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Move Brings Him Back to VR46

Nicolò Bulega will make his full-time MotoGP debut with Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team in 2027, completing a remarkable return to the team where his Grand Prix career began. The 26-year-old Italian will join Fermín Aldeguer in VR46’s new-look line-up as the championship enters its new 850cc era.

The move has a strong connection with Valentino Rossi. Bulega was part of the VR46 Riders Academy during his younger years and made his Grand Prix debut with the VR46 structure in Moto3. Rossi described the move as a “good story”, highlighting how Bulega has returned to the team after taking a very different route through motorcycle racing.

Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Return Follows a Difficult Grand Prix Journey

Bulega’s first spell in Grand Prix racing did not produce the results many expected. He spent several seasons in Moto3 and later moved into Moto2, but his Grand Prix career produced only two Moto3 podiums and no Moto2 rostrums. He eventually left the Grand Prix paddock and moved into the production-based championships.

That change became a major turning point. Bulega joined the World Supersport Championship in 2022 and won the title in 2023. He then stepped up to WorldSBK with Ducati, where he developed into one of the championship’s leading riders.

Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Step Comes After WorldSBK Success

Bulega’s 2026 WorldSBK campaign has been particularly impressive. He has combined strong race results with his role as a Ducati MotoGP test rider, giving him valuable experience with the manufacturer’s new 850cc prototype ahead of the 2027 technical regulations.

He has also already experienced MotoGP machinery in race conditions, having made substitute appearances for Ducati at the end of the 2025 season. His testing work with the new prototype means his 2027 move will not be a completely unfamiliar step.

Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Move Completes a Full-Circle Story

Rossi believes Bulega’s return has an important personal connection because the VR46 group supported him at the beginning of his career. Rossi acknowledged that expectations were high around Bulega when he was young, but circumstances and results meant his career took a different direction.

Now, after rebuilding his career through World Supersport and WorldSBK, Bulega will return to the same VR46 family as a MotoGP rider. His 2027 debut will also come at a significant moment, with the championship moving to 850cc motorcycles and Pirelli tyres.

Nicolò Bulega MotoGP 2027 Focus Remains on WorldSBK First

Despite the confirmed MotoGP move, Bulega’s immediate priority remains the 2026 WorldSBK season. Ducati has stressed that the focus should remain on completing his current campaign before attention turns fully towards MotoGP.

For Bulega, the next step is therefore more than a promotion to MotoGP. It represents the return of a rider who once struggled to fulfil his early promise, rebuilt his career outside the Grand Prix paddock and is now heading back to the premier class with VR46.