Nicolò Bulega's announced departure for MotoGP in 2027 not only leaves a vacant seat at Ducati in WorldSBK, but also raises a much more symbolic question: what remains today of Ducati's Italian identity?
While Borgo Panigale is already preparing to field an all-Spanish duo composed of Marc Marquez et Pedro Acosta in MotoGP, Open up estimate that Ducati He would be making a mistake by definitively turning his back on his Italian roots in Superbike. And the future VR46 rider didn't hesitate to make that clear. "If I were Stefano Cecconi, it would be important for me to have an Italian on the team." »
Just a few weeks ago, we were discussing the unease caused in Italy by the upcoming duo. Marquez-Acosta in MotoGP. A historic first for Ducati modern: no Italian driver will be present in his official team.
The reflection of Open up on speedweek This ultimately prolongs the debate. Because if Ducati If the Bologna-based manufacturer were also to recruit a foreign rider to replace the Italian in WorldSBK, it could quickly become a fully globalized winning machine, but less and less Italian. This evolution doesn't seem to leave... Open up indifferent.
There is no shortage of candidates to take over the Panigale V4 Officially announced in 2027. According to several paddock sources, Ducati currently studying the profiles of Franco Morbidelli, Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales, Brad Binder or alex rinsto which must be added the young Celestine Vietti and Manuel Gonzalez, currently leading the Moto2 championship and also courted by BMW.
In other words, Ducati They are primarily looking for a fast and immediately competitive rider, even if it means poaching one from struggling MotoGP riders. This is a line of reasoning that... Open up He understands it perfectly from a sporting perspective. It could be beneficial for the team and the championship to take one of them »
Bulega: " I got the Superbike opportunity because I was already part of the team, I grew up with them, and I'm Italian. »
The Italian also points out that the regulatory context could favor the arrival of former MotoGP riders. From 2027 onwards, Michelin replace Pirelli as the sole tire manufacturer for WorldSBK. A major change that could offer an adaptation advantage to riders who already have extensive experience with French tires in MotoGP.
« The people at Michelin know these drivers and know how they work. "The pilot points out. From a purely technical standpoint, Ducati would therefore have every interest in betting on an experienced driver from the premier category.
Corn (Mais) Open up introduces a much more interesting element into his thinking: the very identity of the project Ducati that holds the top spot. " I got the Superbike opportunity because I was already part of the team; I grew up with them. and I am Italian »
This sentence undoubtedly deserves more attention than it seems. For behind its apparent simplicity lies a true philosophy. Open up reminds us that he did not arrive at Ducati like a star recruited at a premium price. He is a product of the system DucatiAn Italian driver developed by an Italian manufacturer to defend its colors in a championship where the Panigale V4 has become an absolute benchmark. In other words, Ducati doesn't just sell motorcycles. Ducati It also sells a story.
The position of Open up This resonates all the more with recent events because Ducati is currently undergoing a period of profound change. Marc Marquez et Peter Acosta will form a Spanish duo in MotoGP. Francesco Bagnaia leaves the official team. Nicolò Bulega is heading to MotoGP. Several foreign riders are now being considered for Superbike. Rumors of Volkswagen selling Ducati also fuel questions about the future of the brand.
The debate therefore goes far beyond the choice of successor to Open upFrom what point Ducati Does it cease to be an Italian brand in its sporting incarnation? Should the nationality of the drivers still matter when a manufacturer aims solely for performance?
Ultimately, there are two opposing visions. The first is that of Ducati Corse For several years: recruiting the best drivers in the world regardless of nationality in order to maximize the chances of victory. The second, championed here by Nicholas Bulegaconsiders that a brand like Ducati must retain a part of its historical identity in its sporting choices.
Both approaches are perfectly defensible. After all, no one today criticizes Ducati of having recruited Marc Marquez ou Pedro Acosta, probably the two most talented drivers of their generation. But the statement of Open up This reminds us of an essential point: in motorcycle sport, you don't just win races. You also tell a story. And for DucatiThis story has always had a strong Italian accent.
