Former WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu has shown his full support for former rival Nicolo Bulega ahead of the Italian’s MotoGP debut at Portimao.
Bulega is set to embark on the premier class for the first time, riding the factory Ducati at Portimao and Valencia, replacing 2025 World Champion Marc Marquez as he recovers from injury.
After impressing in a Jerez test, the 26-year-old will use this MotoGP opportunity to prove himself ahead of his 2026 role as the Bologna manufacturer’s test rider, while also continuing with Ducati for the WorldSBK campaign.
Razgatlioglu hopes Bulega makes the most of the opportunity and could potentially finish in the top 10.
“It is good for him. His career is improving year by year, and he has a very good chance in MotoGP,” he said to GPOne at EICMA.
“We will see him in the last two races, the Ducati is very strong and I saw that he did not do badly in the test either.
“I hope he will have fun riding this weekend and also at Valencia. Can he aim for the top 10? I hope so, because he is very strong at Portimao and I think the Ducati is also doing very well on that track, as well as in general.
“I hope he will do a great job, because it is important for Superbike.”
Ahead of his 2026 move to Pramac Yamaha, Razgatlioglu will ride the 2025 Yamaha V4 for the first time during tests in Aragon on Sunday and Monday.
Discussion about this post