As he prepares for his MotoGP debut with VR46, 2026 WorldSBK champion Nicolo Bulega opens up on linking up with Fermin Aldeguer in 2027.
Nicolo Bulega has officially ridden his final race in World Superbike. The Italian star concluded a remarkable tenure with Aruba.it in dominant fashion, sweeping a superb triple victory – the tenth of the year – at the Jerez season finale to bring the 2026 WorldSBK campaign to a close.
The victory signals a new chapter for Bulega, who transitions to the MotoGP paddock next season with the VR46 team. His three-year stint in WorldSBK leaves behind an impressive legacy, featuring two runner-up finishes and a WorldSBK Drivers’ Championship title.
In MotoGP, the Italian will share the VR46 garage with Fermin Aldeguer, who completes his second season in the premier class following his stint with Gresini.
Following Toprak Razgatlioglu’s footsteps
Bulega becomes the second high-profile WorldSBK star on the modern MotoGP grid, following former rival Toprak Razgatlioglu. The Turkish rider made his premier-class move with Pramac in 2026, encountering a steep learning curve after dominating the Superbike category.
On top of a Yamaha proving less competitive than promised, the three-time WorldSBK champion has struggled to adapt to Michelin tyres, sitting 21st in the championship standings with just 18 points.
However, Bulega will step onto what promises to be one of the most competitive packages on the grid, a Ducati under Valentino Rossi’s banner.
Furthermore, amid a major regulation change, Pirelli will become the sole tyre supplier for MotoGP starting in 2027, a manufacturer both Superbike converts know intimately, even if the premier-class specifications will differ from their WorldSBK experience.
Aldeguer visits future VR46 teammate Bulega at Jerez
Aldeguer, currently recovering from surgery to repair a fractured first metacarpal in his right hand following a crash at Mandalika, was present in the Jerez paddock, taking time to visit his 2027 teammate.
“I don’t know him very well. He seems like a really great guy. I talked to him for five minutes this morning when he visited my garage,” Bulege explained to the media in Jerez, including Motorsport Week. “He’s very fast. I hope to learn from him next season, as he already has some MotoGP experience, not a lot, but some. I hope we build a good relationship.”
Bulega also commented on Aldeguer’s hand fracture, which was reportedly sustained or aggravated when the Spaniard struck the ground in frustration following his crash in Mandalika.
“I didn’t know he had broken his hand like that. Sometimes it can happen,” Bulega admitted.
“When you have the adrenaline and you’re doing a great race… You see a lot of work from your team, all the people close to you, and from yourself. You travel across the world, and for one mistake, fifty people go home with nothing, so I can understand the frustration.
“These stupid things can happen to me as well. I think it is not easy to remain calm when you’re racing at 300 km/h and you come back to the garage and you feel that your guys aren’t happy.”
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