Nicolò Bulega

Nicolò Bulega
Bulega in 2024
NationalityItalian
Born (1999-10-16) 16 October 1999 (age 27)
Montecchio Emilia, Italy
Current teamAruba.it Racing – Ducati
Bike number11
Websitebuleganicolo.com/en
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years2025
ManufacturersDucati
Championships0
2025 championship position27th (2 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
2 0 0 0 0 2
Moto2 World Championship
Active years2019–2021
ManufacturersKalex
Championships0
2021 championship position26th (12 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
49 0 0 0 0 92
Moto3 World Championship
Active years2015–2018
ManufacturersKTM
Championships0
2018 championship position26th (18 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
50 0 2 2 2 232
Superbike World Championship
Active years2024–2026
ManufacturersDucati
Championships1 (2026)
2026 championship position1st (726 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
108 52 92 20 56 1813
Supersport World Championship
Active years2022–2023
ManufacturersDucati
Championships1 (2023)
2023 championship position1st (503 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
48 16 30 10 14 745

Nicolò Bulega (born 16 October 1999) is an Italian motorcycle racer. He won the 2023 Supersport World Championship with Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team before going on to win the 2026 Superbike World Championship with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. He became the first rider in history to win both the WorldSSP and WorldSBK World Championships. He has also been a competitor in the CEV Moto3 Championship in 2014 and 2015, becoming Moto3 Junior World Champion in 2015. Prior to competing in the CEV, Bulega won the Italian and European MiniGP 50 championships, and was Italian champion in the PreGP 125 and PreGP 250 classes.

Bulega is the son of former Grand Prix motorcycle racer, Davide Bulega. He is set to leave the Superbike World Championship to join the VR46 Racing Team for the 2027 season.

Career

Early career

Born in Montecchio Emilia, Bulega started his career at the age of eight in the Italian Minimoto Championship. In 2010, he made his debut in MiniGP 50, in both the Italian and European championships, winning both in 2011. In 2012, he won the Italian Championship 125 PreGP, and in the following year, he won the Italian Championship Pre GP 250. As a result, he moved into the CEV Moto3 Championship for the 2014 season, he finished sixth overall in his rookie season with two podium finishes. He would then go on to win the 2015 season.

Moto3 World Championship

Sky Racing Team VR46 (2015–2018)

2015

In 2015, Bulega made his Grand Prix debut with Sky Racing Team VR46 riding a KTM in the Valencian Grand Prix, and finished the race in twelfth place, scoring four points.

2016

In 2016, Bulega started competing full-time in the Moto3 World Championship with Sky Racing Team VR46. He started the 2016 season with a sixth place at Qatar. At his fifth race in Moto3, Bulega achieved his first Grand Prix podium at Jerez with a second place finish having started from pole position, which was his first pole position in Grand Prix racing. Bulega's first fastest lap came at the British Grand Prix on the last lap. Followed by a crash in Aragon, on his birthday, Bulega finished the Japanese Grand Prix in fourth place, and again set the fastest lap. However, after third placed rider Hiroki Ono was disqualified, Bulega was awarded third place. In both Australia and Malaysia, Bulega crashed on the opening lap. Despite qualifying fourth, Bulega started the final race at Valencia in 16th place due to a 12 place grid penalty, and finished the race in 17th, thus losing the 'Rookie of the year' title to Joan Mir. Bulega finished the championship in seventh place with 129 points.

2017

In a year where former Rookie of the Year rival Joan Mir won the 2017 Moto3 World Championship, Bulega struggled to replicate his debut season. His difficulties included bad qualifying strategies and bad starts (mainly due to his height), and his best results of the year were a fourth place in Germany, one of the few times he was able to qualify in the top-six, and two fifth places, in his "home" race in Rimini, and in the USA. He finished a disappointing season in 12th place, with 81 points.

2018

Bulega's 2018 season was even worse than 2017. He retired in the first four races, and finished the fifth race, only 17th in Spain, being one of the two regular riders to not score points in the first five races of the year. His only top-ten finish came in Thailand, where he finished seventh. He ended the season with a mere 18 points, and 26th in the standings.

Moto2 World Championship

Sky Racing Team VR46 (2019)

2019

For the 2019 Moto2 World Championship, despite his poor results, and mainly due to his height and weight on smaller bikes, Bulega was given an opportunity in Moto2 by Sky Racing Team VR46, partnering Luca Marini. He performed somewhat better, with four top-ten finishes in the Spanish, French, Czech, and Thai GPs, but finished 17th in the standings with 48 points. Marini ended in sixth, with 190 points, and four podiums (two victories), and Sky VR46 decided not to keep Bulega for a second season.

Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 (2020–2021)

2020

In the 2020 Moto2 World Championship, Bulega was partnered by Edgar Pons at Gresini. Bulega once again had a bad year, only finishing in the top-ten twice, ending the season 20th in the standings, with 32 points. Luckily for him, Pons had an even worse season, finishing with points in just two races.

2021

For the 2021 season, Bulega's teammate was Fabio Di Giannantonio. Di Giannantonio finished on the podium three times, winning a race in Jerez, while Bulega only finished in a point scoring position three times throughout the season. His 12 points of the season were Bulega's lowest ever of a full season in his career, and due to his bad performance, Gresini elected not to keep him for the 2022 season.

Supersport World Championship

Aruba.it Racing - Ducati (2022-2023)

On September 22, 2021, it was announced that Bulega would join Aruba.it Racing for his first season in the 2022 Supersport World Championship. He finished in fourth place in the standings at the end of his first season in this category.

On Saturday, 30 September 2023, Bulega was crowned the 2023 World Champion with three races to spare after taking 14 wins and 18 podiums up to and including Race 1 at the Portuguese Round.

His future was confirmed after he was announced as Álvaro Bautista's 2024 teammate at the factory Ducati squad in Superbike World Championship.

Superbike World Championship

Aruba.it Racing - Ducati (2024-2026)

In 2024, Bulega finished his debut season with the Factory Ducati Team in second place in the championship. He won six races and finished second on 15 occasions, battling it out with Toprak Razgatlıoğlu.

In 2025, Bulega finished runner-up in the championship, bringing his total to 20 Superbike victories.

On Sunday, 27 September 2026, Bulega was crowned the 2026 World Champion with six races to spare after taking 26 wins and 30 podiums up to and including Race 2 at the Italian Round.

Bulega will leave the Superbike World Championship at the end of 2026 as he switches to racing in the MotoGP World Championship for 2027.

MotoGP World Championship

Ducati Corse (2025)

Bulega replaced Marc Márquez for the final two races of the 2025 season after testing the Ducati Desmosedici GP in a private test at Jerez in 30 & 31 October 2025.

Ducati Corse test rider (2026)

Ducati Corse hired Bulega as a test rider for the 2026 season. He joins the Borgo Panigale manufacturer's test team with Michele Pirro next season, opening up opportunities and possibilities for MotoGP in line with the 2027 regulations. He will support Ducati Corse in the development project of the bike focusing on the Pirelli tires.

VR46 Racing Team (2027–)

On September 9, 2026, VR46 Racing Team announced that Bulega will move from Superbike World Championship to MotoGP in 2027.

Career statistics

FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts
2014 KTM JER1
16		 JER2
7		 LMS
13		 ARA
7		 CAT1
16		 CAT2
10		 ALB
6		 NAV
3		 ALG
2		 VAL1
4		 VAL2
7		 6th 95
2015 KTM ALG
3		 LMS
6		 CAT1
3		 CAT2
4		 ARA1
7		 ARA2
5		 ALB
2		 NAV
2		 JER1
2		 JER2
1		 VAL1
4		 VAL2
3		 1st 189

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2015 Moto3 KTM Sky Racing Team VR46 1 0 0 0 0 4 31st
2016 Moto3 KTM Sky Racing Team VR46 18 0 2 1 2 129 7th
2017 Moto3 KTM Sky Racing Team VR46 17 0 0 1 0 81 12th
2018 Moto3 KTM Sky Racing Team VR46 14 0 0 0 0 18 26th
2019 Moto2 Kalex Sky Racing Team VR46 18 0 0 0 0 48 17th
2020 Moto2 Kalex Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 15 0 0 0 0 32 20th
2021 Moto2 Kalex Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 16 0 0 0 0 12 26th
2025 MotoGP Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team 2 0 0 0 0 2 27th
Total 101 0 2 2 2 326

By class

Class Seasons 1st GP 1st pod 1st win Race Win Podiums Pole FLap Pts WChmp
Moto3 2015–2018 2015 Valencia 2016 Spain 50 0 2 2 2 232 0
Moto2 2019–2021 2019 Qatar 49 0 0 0 0 92 0
MotoGP 2025 2025 Portugal 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 2015–2021, 2025 101 0 2 2 2 326 0

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pos Pts
2015 Moto3 KTM QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER IND CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
12		 31st 4
2016 Moto3 KTM QAT
6		 ARG
18		 AME
10		 SPA
2		 FRA
5		 ITA
8		 CAT
5		 NED
7		 GER
Ret		 AUT
9		 CZE
9		 GBR
5		 RSM
4		 ARA
Ret		 JPN
3		 AUS
Ret		 MAL
Ret		 VAL
17		 7th 129
2017 Moto3 KTM QAT
14		 ARG
16		 AME
5		 SPA
7		 FRA
17		 ITA
10		 CAT
9		 NED
10		 GER
4		 CZE
23		 AUT
11		 GBR
20		 RSM
5		 ARA
14		 JPN
12		 AUS
11		 MAL
Ret		 VAL
DNS		 12th 81
2018 Moto3 KTM QAT
Ret		 ARG
Ret		 AME
Ret		 SPA
17		 FRA
Ret		 ITA
21		 CAT
Ret		 NED
11		 GER
14		 CZE
19		 AUT
23		 GBR
C		 RSM
Ret		 ARA
14		 THA
7		 JPN AUS MAL VAL 26th 18
2019 Moto2 Kalex QAT
Ret		 ARG
Ret		 AME SPA
9		 FRA
10		 ITA
Ret		 CAT
13		 NED
Ret		 GER
18		 CZE
7		 AUT
13		 GBR
20		 RSM
Ret		 ARA
12		 THA
8		 JPN
Ret		 AUS
12		 MAL
12		 VAL
22		 17th 48
2020 Moto2 Kalex QAT
18		 SPA
14		 ANC
12		 CZE
14		 AUT
16		 STY
13		 RSM
15		 EMI
11		 CAT
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 ARA
18		 TER
17		 EUR
8		 VAL
9		 POR
Ret		 20th 32
2021 Moto2 Kalex QAT
22		 DOH
17		 POR
Ret		 SPA
Ret		 FRA
11		 ITA
DNS		 CAT
17		 GER
11		 NED
19		 STY
22		 AUT
22		 GBR
14		 ARA
Ret		 RSM
17		 AME
DNS		 EMI
18		 ALR
22		 VAL
24		 26th 12
2025 MotoGP Ducati THA ARG AME QAT SPA FRA GBR ARA ITA NED GER CZE AUT HUN CAT RSM JPN INA AUS MAL POR
15		 VAL
15		 27th 2

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos Pts
2022 Ducati SPA
5		 SPA
3		 NED
3		 NED
4		 POR
3		 POR
Ret		 ITA
3		 ITA
3		 GBR
Ret		 GBR
3		 CZE
9		 CZE
2		 FRA
11		 FRA
3		 SPA
Ret		 SPA
14		 POR
15		 POR
10		 ARG
11		 ARG
8		 INA
6		 INA
7		 AUS
2		 AUS
4		 4th 242
2023 Ducati AUS
1		 AUS
1		 INA
5		 INA
3		 NED
1		 NED
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
Ret		 ITA
1		 ITA
2		 GBR
1		 GBR
1		 ITA
3		 ITA
2		 CZE
1		 CZE
16		 FRA
1		 FRA
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 POR
1		 POR
2		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 1st 503

Superbike World Championship

By season

Season Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2024 Ducati Panigale V4R Aruba.it Racing – Ducati 36 6 24 4 11 484 2nd
2025 Ducati Panigale V4R Aruba.it Racing – Ducati 36 14 32 5 14 603 2nd
2026 Ducati Panigale V4R Aruba.it Racing – Ducati 36 32 36 11 31 726 1st
Total 108 52 92 20 56 1813

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts
R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2
2024 Ducati AUS
1		 AUS
5		 AUS
5		 SPA
2		 SPA
4		 SPA
2		 NED
11		 NED
2		 NED
8		 ITA
2		 ITA
2		 ITA
2		 GBR
4		 GBR
2		 GBR
2		 CZE
6		 CZE
2		 CZE
2		 POR
7		 POR
5		 POR
2		 FRA
Ret		 FRA
1		 FRA
1		 ITA
2		 ITA
4		 ITA
3		 SPA
Ret		 SPA
3		 SPA
3		 POR
2		 POR
1		 POR
2		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
2		 2nd 484
2025 Ducati AUS
1		 AUS
1		 AUS
1		 POR
2		 POR
2		 POR
2		 NED
1		 NED
Ret		 NED
Ret		 ITA
1		 ITA
1		 ITA
1		 CZE
2		 CZE
2		 CZE
1		 ITA
2		 ITA
Ret		 ITA
2		 GBR
2		 GBR
2		 GBR
2		 HUN
2		 HUN
13		 HUN
2		 FRA
2		 FRA
2		 FRA
2		 SPA
2		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 POR
2		 POR
2		 POR
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 2nd 603
2026 Ducati AUS
1		 AUS
1		 AUS
1		 POR
1		 POR
1		 POR
1		 NED
1		 NED
1		 NED
1		 HUN
1		 HUN
1		 HUN
1		 CZE
1		 CZE
1		 CZE
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 ITA
1		 ITA
1		 ITA
1		 GBR
2		 GBR
1		 GBR
1		 FRA
1		 FRA
1		 FRA
1		 ITA
2		 ITA
2		 ITA
2		 POR
1		 POR
1		 POR
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 SPA
1		 1st 726

Records

As of 18 October 2026, Bulega holds the following records:

WorldSBK

References

  1. ↑ "#Bu1eGAS: Nicolo Bulega crowned 2023 WorldSSP Champion after stunning season". worldsbk.com. 30 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "The shape of redemption: Bulega crowned 2026 WorldSBK Champion after sensational season". worldsbk.com. 27 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Moto3: Bulega in Moto3 2016". Motoblog.it. Moto Blog Italia. 23 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "La penúltima, en Jerez". Diariojerez.es. Diario Jerez Espana. 28 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bulega and Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP team up for 2022 WorldSSP charge". worldsbk.com. 22 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Nicolò Bulega and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will part ways at the end of the 2026 season". Ducati.com. 9 September 2026. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Nicolo Bulega to replace Marc Marquez in Portugal and Valencia". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Bulega signs 2026 Ducati MotoGP test rider contract". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bulega to join MotoGP with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team in 2027". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 9 September 2026. Retrieved 9 September 2026.