Nicholas Bulega will be on track with the Ducati Lenovo Team for the Portuguese and Valencia Grand Prix to replace Marc Márquez for the last two rounds of the season MotoGP 2025.
The Superbike World Championship runner-up – who tested the Desmosedici GP during tests at Jerez de la Frontera – will make his debut in the premier class on the Desmosedici GP.
At the Portuguese Grand Prix, scheduled for next week in Portimão (November 7–9), Nicolò Bulega will make his MotoGP debut with the Ducati Lenovo Team. The Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider, 2023 Supersport World Champion, two-time Superbike World Championship runner-up in 2024/25, and MotoGP test rider for the Borgo Panigale factory, will replace Marc Márquez for the final two races of the season.
In Portimão, Nicolò, who tested the Desmosedici GP for the first time yesterday on the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, will celebrate his 100th start in the World Championship (50 races in Moto3 and 49 in Moto2) with this prestigious opportunity.
Nicolò Bulega (Ducati Lenovo Team #11)
“I am very happy to be able to finish a season like this with a last-minute surprise.
Making their MotoGP debut is the dream of any child who aspires to become a rider.
Furthermore, being able to ride the World Champion motorcycle for the last two races of 2025 makes it all even more special.It will be a big gamble; I have no particular expectations. I will approach this experience calmly, especially since, for the moment, I have only been able to test the Desmosedici GP at Jerez.
That said, I am clearly motivated to do well and give my best.Thanks to Ducati and Ducati Corse for their trust, to Claudio, Gigi, Mauro, Davide, Stefano and Serafino for their total support, and to the Aruba.it Racing team with whom we finished a season as contenders.
Luigi Dall'Igna (General Manager of Ducati Corse)
“I am very happy to see Nicolò working on the Desmosedici GP.
Nicolò has been part of the Ducati Corse family since 2022, when we wanted him to ride our Supersport motorcycle.
We believed in him, and he repaid us with two seasons in Superbike where he was an absolute protagonist, close to the title, and our point of reference as a rider.Furthermore, for next year, we have announced his role, alongside Michele Pirro, in the development of the Desmosedici GP with the new tires.
Having the opportunity to race in the last two GPs is the best way to start this new role as a test driver.It will be demanding, but I hope he will benefit from this experience: for a young driver, making his debut in the premier category is a huge achievement.
Biography of Nicolò Bulega
Born in 1999 in Montecchio Emilia, Nicolò started riding motorcycles in the early 2000s.
• 2011: MiniGP Junior 50 Champion (Italy & Europe)
• 2012: PreGP 125 Champion
• 2013: PreGP 250 Champion
• 2014–2015: Spanish Championship (titles in 2015)
• 2015: Moto3 World Championship debut (wild-card)
• 2016: Rookie Moto3 – 1 pole and 2 podiums
• 2019-2021: Moto2
• 2022: Joined Ducati in Supersport, achieved podium finishes with Aruba.it Racing
• 2023: World Supersport Champion (10 pole positions, 16 wins)
• 2024-2025: Superbike, runner-up in the world championship (rookie in 2024 then 2nd in 2025)
