After a fantastic start to the year with a 6th place in Qatar and a second in Jerez, Nicolo Bulega had an overall more than decent season, ending up in 7th position in the general classification, with 129 points.
Despite some friction with its then leader, Roman Fenati, and despite a 3rd place in the Rookies ranking behind Joan mir et Fabio DiGiannantonio, a certain part of the Italian press foresees a great future for it and sometimes does not hesitate to compare it with Valentino Rossi.
The Emilia-Romagna pilot sets things straight TuttoMotoriWeb: “The comparison with Rossi is difficult, but it is always better to be compared with a strong driver rather than a weak one. But I am the first to know that another Valentino Rossi will never exist, and so I am working to follow my own path. »
A clean path which sometimes led the 2015 FIM CEV champion to make some blunders, as judged by Valentino Rossi, his media boss: “Sometimes it's Bulega who drives, but on some occasions it's the 'ignorant' side of him that's on the track. »
A judgment that the owner of the Sky VR46 team tries to explain: “On the track, I am determined and I don't go into details; If I have to overtake you, I don't think twice and I don't ask for permission. That said, every word and every trajectory of Valentino is a lesson. It is not him who should come and give you some advice, but you who should observe him and learn something each time. And his love for motorcycles is contagious. »
Although Bulega can certainly be among the contenders for the 2017 title, he does not feel favorite and favors the new team recruit Estrella Galicia: “In my opinion, Enea Bastianini is the favorite for the Moto3 title. And we must not forget Fenati: he is competitive, he will have a good bike and he will be driven by the desire for revenge. »
