Nicolò Bulega arrives in Superbike 2026 with a reputation that leaves no one indifferent. Twice runner-up in the WSBK World Championship behind Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, the Italian rider for the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team is considered one of the favorites for the title this season. But this year, it's not just about SBK podium finishes: it's a kind of big gamble for his future. At 26, he's aiming higher and further..
Open up has already started working as a test pilot for Ducati in MotoGP, in addition to his Superbike commitments, a step which he hopes to transform into a real move to MotoGP when the new regulations (850cc motorcycles in 2027) come into effect.
This is not a vague dream: he has extended his contract with Ducati for 2026, combining SBK racing with this development role, which clearly positions his chances for a move to prototype.
But the scenario isn't entirely straightforward. If the MotoGP door doesn't open as he hopes, Open up and his advisors are considering other options, including staying in Superbike or even changing championships or manufacturers if Ducati does not offer him the desired guarantees, whether financial or sporting.
Brands like BMW ou Yamaha These are among the manufacturers who could attract him in this scenario.
Another major element of this project is the role that could play VR46, the team of Valentino Rossi. GP One raises the possibility that Open up integrates the project VR46 in MotoGP with the support of Ducati and Gigi Dall'Ignawhich would make him not only a pilot Ducatibut also a leading figure of the Italian revival in the top category.
All or nothing: the challenge of 2026 by Nicolò Bulega
This lead is not a mere hypothesis: in the past, Open up had already been identified as an interesting pilot by Ducati et Dall'Ignaand he even rode a MotoGP bike as a replacement for Marc Marquez on the final rounds of 2025.
The WSBK title this season is obviously at stake, but the real challenge for Open up Its future remains in prototype series. If Ducati and the rider market opens the door to MotoGP for him in 2027, he could become one of the key faces of the transition to 850cc.
If he fails to secure this project, he could remain in Superbike or seize another offer, even if it means leaving the Italian team and exploring other horizons.
Open up is a major figure in WSBK 2026, with a real chance of winning the title. He combines his racing with a MotoGP test role at Ducati, which could prepare it for a prototype stage in 2027.
Si Ducati does not offer him the royal road to MotoGP, he could consider sporting or financial alternatives, even outside the fold Ducati.
