{"id":2477,"date":"2026-09-18T15:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T18:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2477"},"modified":"2026-09-18T13:47:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T16:47:07","slug":"why-marc-marquez-and-acosta-believe-bulega-can-surprise-motogp-in-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/why-marc-marquez-and-acosta-believe-bulega-can-surprise-motogp-in-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Marc M\u00e1rquez and Acosta believe Bulega can surprise MotoGP in 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Marc M\u00e1rquez and Pedro Acosta have identified Nicol\u00f2 Bulega as one of MotoGP\u2019s most intriguing arrivals for 2027.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bulega has extensive experience with Pirelli tyres through WorldSBK and is already testing Ducati\u2019s 850cc prototype.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Italian will leave WorldSBK to join VR46 Ducati as MotoGP introduces substantially different technical regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MotoGP\u2019s sweeping 2027 rules reset may give Nicol\u00f2 Bulega an opportunity rarely available to a premier-class rookie: arriving with more experience of the new tyres and machinery than several established riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marc M\u00e1rquez and Pedro Acosta believe that combination could make Bulega one of the surprises of next season. The Italian will join VR46 Ducati as MotoGP switches from Michelin to Pirelli tyres and reduces engine capacity from 1000cc to 850cc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega is already familiar with both elements of the transition. He has raced on Pirelli rubber throughout his WorldSBK career and is working as a Ducati test rider on the manufacturer\u2019s new 850cc prototype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega\u2019s circumstances therefore differ considerably from those of a conventional rookie. While the current <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/\">MotoGP field prepares for a major technical reset<\/a>, the 26-year-old has spent the year accumulating mileage on the motorcycle and tyres that will define the championship\u2019s next era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor me, Bulega,\u201d M\u00e1rquez said when asked during the Austrian GP press conference which 2027 rider move interested him most. \u201cHe\u2019s testing already, he knows the tyres, and I believe that he will be fast. He\u2019s a very good rider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega was previously a member of Valentino Rossi\u2019s VR46 Riders Academy and competed in Moto3 and Moto2 before rebuilding his career in production-based racing. He won the 2023 World Supersport title and subsequently became a leading WorldSBK rider with Ducati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His return to the Grand Prix paddock is therefore not simply a promotion from another championship. It is the culmination of a route that has given him knowledge directly relevant to MotoGP\u2019s new regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Bulega\u2019s Pirelli experience matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirelli will replace Michelin as MotoGP\u2019s tyre supplier in 2027, creating an adaptation challenge across the grid. Riders will need to understand a different construction, behaviour under braking and response as grip deteriorates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega has years of experience with Pirelli through WorldSSP and WorldSBK. That does not guarantee immediate MotoGP success, but it should reduce one of the major unknowns facing the rest of the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pol Espargar\u00f3 has already warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/pol-espargaro-pirelli-motogp-2027-moto2-wsbk-advantage\/\">MotoGP\u2019s switch to Pirelli tyres will produce a \u201cdrastic\u201d change<\/a>, arguing that riders coming from Moto2 or WorldSBK could initially benefit from their familiarity with the supplier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega has an additional advantage because Ducati selected him to help develop its 850cc prototype. His testing role was incorporated into his latest agreement with the manufacturer, creating a pathway that ultimately led to the VR46 seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That work continued at Mugello this week, although the test ended with a violent highside at Arrabbiata 2. Bulega was taken to hospital for examinations but <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/bulega-escapes-serious-injury-violent-ducati-motogp-test-crash\/\">escaped the accident without any fractures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Acosta expects 850cc bikes to help new arrivals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Acosta agreed with his future Ducati team-mate and suggested the characteristics of the 850cc motorcycles could make the transition easier for MotoGP newcomers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs Marc said, Bulega will be a nice move,\u201d Acosta said. \u201cAlso, everyone who is moving from Moto2 will be a nice surprise, to see how they manage knowing the tyres.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The KTM rider expects the reduced-capacity motorcycles to be less physically and technically demanding than the current generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI also think the bikes will be easier to ride than the ones we are using now,\u201d he added. \u201cIt will be a nice surprise to see how the Moto2 riders adapt to the new category.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jorge Mart\u00edn alongside Marc M\u00e1rquez and Pedro Acosta. M\u00e1rquez and Acosta believe future VR46 rider Nicol\u00f2 Bulega can impress in 2027 (Photo: AFP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega will enter MotoGP with considerably more experience than when he left the Grand Prix paddock at the end of 2021. His WorldSBK success, Pirelli knowledge and role in Ducati\u2019s 850cc development give VR46 a rider already embedded in the manufacturer\u2019s preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MotoGP returns at the Austrian GP on Saturday with FP2 at 09:10 UK and 04:10 ET. Qualifying begins at 09:50 UK and 04:50 ET, followed by the Sprint at 14:00 UK and 09:00 ET. Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix starts at 13:00 UK and 08:00 ET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MotoGP today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who won the 2026 Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pedro Acosta won the Austrian GP, beating Jorge Mart\u00edn by 1.017s after taking the lead on lap nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Was Austria Pedro Acosta\u2019s first MotoGP victory?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. The 2026 Austrian GP was Acosta\u2019s first full-distance MotoGP victory after 15 previous premier-class podiums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who leads the 2026 MotoGP championship after Austria?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jorge Mart\u00edn leads with 306 points. Marc M\u00e1rquez is second on 294, leaving Mart\u00edn 12 points ahead with seven rounds remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why could Nicol\u00f2 Bulega have an advantage in MotoGP in 2027?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulega already has extensive experience with Pirelli tyres through WorldSBK and has tested Ducati\u2019s new 850cc MotoGP prototype. Both the tyre supplier and engine regulations will change in 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nicol\u00f2 Bulega already knows MotoGP\u2019s future Pirelli tyres and has accumulated valuable testing mileage on Ducati\u2019s new 850cc prototype<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1001098728,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Bulega\u2019s Pirelli experience could make him MotoGP\u2019s 2027 surprise","42wp_featured_image_credits":"WSBK","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[104,345,343,106],"42wp_author":[55],"class_list":["post-2477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motogp","tag-marc-marquez","tag-motogp-2027","tag-nicolo-bulega","tag-pedro-acosta","42wp_author-caio-cavalcante"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2477"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2478,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2477\/revisions\/2478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1001098728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2477"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}