Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider Nicolo Bulega admitted he is “not interested” in notoriety despite leading the WorldSBK championship.

Bulega joined the WorldSBK grid last season and immediately drew attention by winning six races and finishing as runner-up in the standings to Toprak Razgatlioglu. 

The momentum from Bulega’s rookie season has continued into this campaign, as he leads the championship after dominating the Phillip Island and Cremona rounds, as well as picking up victories in Assen and Most. 

The Italian admitted his current WorldSBK form is the best he has ridden in his career so far.

“I have never been at such a good level in my career,” Bulega said via GPOne. 

“After a promising start and some difficulties, now I have recovered well thanks to the help of many people, having fun on the bike. As a result, everything comes easier.”

Despite his recent record making him one of WorldSBK’s biggest draws, Bulega revealed he tends to shy away from the limelight in favour of solely focusing on races and results.

“I don’t like being in the spotlight, much less being a character,” he admitted.

“If it were up to me, I would disappear when there are interviews, because these are all things that would weigh on me. 

“I’m not one of those who wants notoriety and tries to appear at all costs, because I’m not interested in all that.”

‘I know what it means to hit rock bottom’ – Nicolo Bulega on career resurgence in WorldSBK

Bulega admitted he now focuses on getting results in races, revealing he felt as if he’d reached “rock bottom” in his career at 21 years old, when he left the VR46 academy in 2020.

“In this sport, I have realised that the only thing that matters is getting results, because I know what it means to hit rock bottom. 

“I just want to focus on racing and getting results, knowing that if I wanted to I could make a lot of videos, but I just want to limit them. 

When asked what it meant to hit rock bottom, Bulega responded: “To hit rock bottom means there is no place for you, unless you have €300-400,000 sponsors, which I never had. 

“Many people think otherwise, but I never had sponsors who could pay for my season. 

“So you find yourself at 21, with nothing, with a life ahead of you that you don’t know what to do.” 

Now thriving in WorldSBK, leading the championship after scoring two perfect weekends in 2025, Bulega said he aims to “optimise” his current performances.

“I just think about doing my best on the track, staying focused on performance,” the Italian affirmed. 

“Maybe someone has changed his mind about me and that’s good, even though to date I haven’t won anything except for a few races. 

“Unfortunately, I can’t go back in my life and recover from my mistakes but I would just like to optimise the present.”

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Nicolo Bulega admitted he and Ducati had to start from scratch after his Superpole WorldSBK race collision with Axel Bassani at Misano.

The championship leader’s Superpole race was compromised when Bimota’s Axel Bassani lost the front at Turn 1 at the start.

As a result, Bulega’s title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu secured the Superpole race win which cut the championship gap to 14-points.

“He told me he lost his front end when he braked,” Bulega told Speedweek post-race.

“But I saw on TV afterwards that his front wheel slipped after he touched me. If he hadn’t touched me, it wouldn’t have happened.

“He didn’t have the pace to win. So why make such a stupid overtaking manoeuvre in the first corner? It was a rookie mistake.”

Bulega stated that Bassani was “looking for excuses” to avoid responsibility for the crash, claiming his fellow countryman told him that his front wheel folded under braking into the corner.

“On top of that, he didn’t come to me to apologize to me and my team—he just made an Instagram story.

“That’s not enough, also out of respect for my team, because they had to rebuild my bike. Everything was destroyed, including the chassis.

“The least he could have done would have been to apologise to me and my team.”

Nicolo Bulega: Toprak Razgatlioglu ‘was strong all weekend’

To add insult to injury, Bulega was forced to start Race 2 from 10th but fought back to finish second, but the championship gap cut further to just nine points.

However, the Italian conceded he was second-best to the reigning WorldSBK champion, who completed back-to-back trebles on the Adriatic coast.

 “I haven’t had a consistently good feeling all weekend. It was good in qualifying, but not at other times. We need to understand why that was.

“Second place isn’t a bad result, but it’s my home race and my team’s, and we wanted to achieve more. Congratulations to Toprak, he was very strong all weekend.”

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Ducati announces Nicolo Bulega has signed new contract which sees him remain in WorldSBK for 2026 alongside a MotoGP test rider role.

Bulega currently leads the WorldSBK championship by 31 points ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu after a stellar start to the campaign.

The Italian has built on an impressive rookie campaign where he finished second in the championship, after winning the World Supersport title with Ducati in 2023.

There had been rumours that BMW held an interest in the Italian should Razgatlioglu move to MotoGP but Bulega has confirmed he will be a Ducati rider for next season. 

The extension also sees the WorldSBK championship leader become part of the Ducati MotoGP test lineup alongside Michele Pirro to help with experience on the Pirelli tyres, which will be the series’ manufacturer from 2027 onwards.

“I am very happy to take on the role of Ducati test rider for MotoGP,” Bulega said via a statement. 

“It is a part of a dream come true because there are not many riders who are given the chance to try the Ducati Desmosedici GP. 

“It is a very important goal for my life that I achieve and I will try to make the most of this opportunity, also to gain further experience in the Ducati world.

“The future? I am only thinking about the present, about defending the colors of Aruba and Ducati in Superbike and when I get on the Desmosedici GP.

“What will happen next we will find out in due time because the priorities are now clear.”

Gigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, added: “Nicolò represents a winning bet for the Ducati Corse project.

“We started a journey together in 2022 in Supersport to make him competitive also in the higher class aboard the Panigale V4R. 

“In his rookie year in WorldSBK he impressed everyone, showing his real potential and all his talent as a rider. 

“We are really happy to be able to confirm that he will remain for the next season with Aruba.it Racing, but even more so to be able to announce his new role within Ducati Corse. 

“With the imminent entry of the new tyre supplier in MotoGP, Nicolò is a great resource for the development and adaptation of the Desmosedici GP to Pirelli. 

“This new role is for him a further incentive to improve and grow as a rider, but also a great demonstration of esteem and trust.”

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Nicolo Bulega admitted that he pushed himself more than twice as hard as ever before on the final lap to secure an impressive Race 2 WorldSBK victory at Most.

The current championship leader finished in second in Race 1 and the Superpole Race, but halted Toprak Razgatlioglu’s treble aspirations.

The Italian recovered a deficit of over a second in the final few laps and outdragged his BMW rival to the line, securing a win reminiscent of Estoril 2024.

“It was incredible, Toprak had more than I did all race, his pace was stronger than mine, but I was trying to push 200% every lap to follow him,” he told WorldSBK.

“By halfway through, he was about a second ahead of me, but I never gave up. I tried to catch up to him because I knew I’d have more than him in the last few laps.

“In the last lap I put everything on the table, it was incredible, I was really on the limit, more than that was impossible. The last lap I was sideways, screaming, the traction control, everything was strange, but it was very nice.”

Bulega admitted that the characteristics of the Most circuit don’t suit his riding style, making the victory all the more sweeter.

“I was fighting a little bit with my bike, we made a step between the Superpole to Race 2, my bike was a bit better, but still not enough to stay comfortable with Toprak.

“Most is not the best for my riding style or our bike, we prefer long and fast corners, and this one is small and slow, so I’m happy to win here, it’s very special.”

Nicolo Bulega aims for ‘step forward’ in Misano WorldSBK

Bulega explained that he hopes to make that step forward in Misano for the next round of the WorldSBK championship.

The Ducati rider heads into his home race with confidence from his Race 2 victory at Most, hoping to build on the margins he found at Misano earlier in 2024.

“We’ve made a step in the last races since Cremona, this is really important for the Championship, but the Championship is very long, there are still many races until the final race,” he said.

“One more is better than one less, but I don’t think about the championship now.

“I’m happy we won today because it motivates me for the next race at my home round.

“Last year Toprak was very strong but like we showed in these last races, I think we made a step compared to last year.

“Last year I was always behind Toprak in second, but I want to bring this step forward to win at Misano.”

READ MORE – Nicolo Bulega completes incredible photo finish Most WorldSBK Race 2 victory

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Nicolo Bulega says “it’s incredible” to complete the Cremona WorldSBK treble despite the track being his “worst” on the calendar.

The Italian earned his second hat-trick of 2025 by dominating the weekend ahead of title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu, who claimed second in each of the three races.

Bulega reinstated his championship lead to 34 points after a double DNF in Assen due to technical problems. 

The Italian rider admitted he did not expect to win at the track as he finds it “difficult to adapt.”

“Incredible, because like I said, already 100 times, this is my worst track of all the calendar,” Bulega told media, including Motorsport Week. 

“I really don’t like this track for my riding style. For me, it’s difficult to adapt here because there are a lot of slow corners, and for me slow corners are very bad to do. 

“I prefer always long and fast corners. 
So if you told me one week ago, I win three races in Cremona, I don’t believe you. 

“So it’s incredible. In front of these Italian fans, always very nice. 
It’s an unbelievable weekend. 

“You don’t like this this track, but the same result of the track you prefer exactly the same. Yeah, someone can think that. a corner is a corner, but it’s not like this. 

“Maybe the best weekend in Superbike, even more than Australia.”

‘My plan worked’ – Bulega on Cremona WorldSBK success

The Italian admitted he knew he would be facing championship rival Razgatlioglu on the road, but had a plan to ensure the BMW man would not find a way past. 

“I mean, in the long distance, my plan was just try to push 100% and try to beat Toprak in the pace,” Bulega said. 

“I knew that maybe Toprak was a bit more difficult for him to follow my pace in this track. 

“So I just tried the first lap stay calm, make some gaps from the third, and then when I was sure I was near him, I overtake him.

He added: “I did 10 laps, like 120% for trying to go and my plan work also today, so very happy about this weekend. 

“My bike is adapted very well for me. 
I think this is the reason why I go fast with Ducati, because I ride like Ducati want to be right. So sometimes we are a bit difficult in the same time in the same corner.

Nicolo Bulega: WorldSBK win in Italy for Ducati ‘very special’

Bulega was evidently emotional as he took the chequered flag to complete his treble in Cremona. 

The Italian had been supported throughout the weekend by various high-profile figures, including MotoGP Team Co-ordinator Davide Tardozzi and General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna. 

Bulega admitted it was “even more special” to win in front of Dall’Igna in particular. 

“Yes, it’s incredible, for me, for all the people who come here to see me and also for my team and for all the people you met,” said Bulega.  

“It now is very nice to give them a gift here in Italy because I know a win in Italy for Ducati is very special also for me. 

“And I cannot ask more from this weekend. Afraid I already say that my goal is to stay with Ducati because like you see, I have a very good feeling, it’s’ always fantastic to stay with them, especially in my garage, with my team. 

He added: “We have an amazing feeling, so the goal is to stay with them. But until now, I don’t sign anything and we are just waiting. 

“No, I’m just more happy to win with Gigi [Dall’lgna] in the garage because he’s the boss of the Ducati, so winning in front of him is even more special. 

“It was important for me to make a great result, and to do it in front of Gigi is even more special.”

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Nicolo Bulega triumphed by taking WorldSBK Superpole race victory in a flag-to-flag performance in Cremona.

No one stood a chance against the incumbent championship leader, who cruised home to take his second victory of the weekend.

Toprak Razgatlioglu and team-mate Alvaro Bautista once again finished as his closest challengers.

In a repeat of Saturday’s race, Bulega once again remained in the lead into Turn 1 ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista.

The leading two title contenders established a near-second advantage by the end of the first lap, and second-place starter Sam Lowes tussled with Andrea Iannone for fourth place.

Ducati showed its superiority by occupying four of the top five scoring positions by the end of Lap 3, with Razgatlioglu the exception.

The BMW rider managed to stay within a few bike lengths behind Bulega, but no move arrived in the early half of the race.

On Lap 3, it was revealed that GoEleven rider Iannone jumped the start, resulting in a double long lap penalty that demoted him down the pecking order.

Bulega found an extra gear to extend his lead to 0.6s by the end of Lap 4, before doubling the advantage to 1.2.s by the end of Lap 6.

Elsewhere, Iannone dispatched BMW rider Michael van der Mark and Hondas Iker Lecuona to rise to eighth.

Not long after Iannone’s overtake, Lecuona crashed out of proceedings on Lap 8.

Barni Spark Racing rider Danilo Petrucci forged through the field from 13th on the grid, putting himself in strong contention for Race 2 later on this afternoon.

The Italian made a move on lead Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli to claim sixth place at Turn 8, ending his race there.

Bulega’s victory extended his advantage at the top of the pile to 29-points, winning his sixth race of the season in factory red.

Razgatlioglu claimed second spot, finishing 1.4s behind his championship rival and was by far the lead non-Ducati rider.

Bautista endured a quiet race to secure third position, fending off Marc VDS rider Lowes, who put substantial pressure on the Spaniard throughout the 10-lapper.

Xavi Vierge produced a strong performance for Honda once again, claiming sixth spot ahead of Petrucci.

Locatelli could only produce seventh place for Pata Maxus Yamaha, but managed to keep Iannone and Van der Mark under control.

Remy Gardner rounded off the top ten positions, bettering the British duo of Ducati rider Scott Redding and Bimotas Alex Lowes.

Dominique Aegerter posted 13th place for GRT Yamaha, as Barni Spark’s second rider Yari Montella finished in 14th position.

Garrett Gerloff’s lack of strong results continued as he ended his race in 15th position for Kawasaki.

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Nicolo Bulega completed a resounding Race 1 victory after starting from pole position at the Cremona WorldSBK round.

The championship leader dominated proceedings after an early battle with Toprak Razgatlioglu to prevail in style.

Pole sitter Bulega took the holeshot into Turn 1 as he and championship rival Razgatlioglu cleared away from the rest of the field.

Bautista sneaked through on Marc VDS rider Lowes, but the leading duo had already established a near second lead by the end of the lap.

The BMW rider sneaked his way past Bulega at Turn 13 before the end of Lap 1 to continue his newfound momentum.

Pata Maxus Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli crashed out of proceedings while fighting in the middle of the pack, resulting in his first retirement of the season thus far.

Bulega responded to take the lead down the back straight at Turn 11 on Lap 3, but Razgatlioglu’s line allowed him to squeeze through once again at Turn 13 before the start finish straight.

Despite the duo squabbling for the lead, the duo formed a 1.5s gap over the rest of the grid which only extended further in the laps to come.

Bulega tried to overtake once again but went wide on the corner entry, which put his championship rival through once again.

Aside from the fantastic duel out front, the rest of the field were contesting for fourth through to 10th position, with GoEleven’s Andrea Iannone leading the cluster.

Bulega learnt from his mistake earlier in the race at Turn 10, and once he got up on the inside, he slapped the door shut of a possible overtake from the reigning champion at Turn 13.

The second Aruba.it Ducati rider of Bautista was a distant 2.5s down the road by Lap 6, but maintained strong form to extend the gap behind.

GRT Yamaha rider Remy Gardner pounced on an Iannone error to occupy fourth, but Ducatis superiority on the back straight put the Italian back in front.

As the race reached double figures in laps, only a few bike lengths still separated Bulega and Razgatlioglu in the leading two positions, but the gap kept on extending to the Spaniard behind.

The halfway mark saw Bulega formulate a gap between himself and Razgatlioglu, with the championship leader boasting a 1.5s advantage.

Honda showed its competitiveness thanks to Spaniard Iker Lecuona making impressive moves on his team-mate Xavi Vierge and Yamaha rider Gardner on Lap 9 and Lap 11, promoting himself to fifth.

He later completed a late plunge on Iannone to rise to fourth position, but Bautista held a near seven-second advantage up the road.

All his hard work resulted in no reward, as on Lap 14 he lost the front at Turn 3, putting him out of contention for a strong result for the factory outfit.

Following the crash, none of the leading three positions changed in the second half of the race due to tyre wear playing a factor, but Bulega stretched a lead out to 2.8s over his rival.

Bulega bounced back from a Sunday double retirement in Assen to win his fifth race of the 2025 season.

Razgatlioglu settled for second despite showing aggression in the early phases to try and take the win.

Bautista finished 11.4s off his team-mate but completed the podium spots despite suffering three crashes in the two Friday practice sessions.

Iannone followed 23.2s behind the leader to take fourth, leading the middle of the pack consisting of Vierge and Gardner.

Last year’s treble winner Petrucci finished seventh after starting 13th on the grid after completing a late overtake on BMW’s Michael van der Mark.

Axel Bassani fended off a late charge from Bonovo’s Scott Redding to take ninth, whereas Alex Lowes edged out his twin, Sam, to 11th place.

Dominique Aegerter finished 13th to secure a double points finish for GRT Yamaha, followed by Barni Spark’s Yari Montella and Kawasaki’s Garrett Gerloff closing the points scoring positions.

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Nicolo Bulega saved his best lap till the final opportunity to claim Superpole at the Cremona WorldSBK round.

The championship leader bettered his record lap time from last year as he set a scorching time of 1.27.866s.

Marc VDS rider and Assen pole sitter Sam Lowes was sitting pretty at the top of the charts before Bulega’s lap, before demoting to second.

BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu will start Race 1 in third place after qualifying three tenths off his championship rival.

Alvaro Bautista will start right behind his team-mate on the second row, followed closely by Hondas Xavi Vierge and GoEleven Ducati rider Andrea Iannone.

Remy Gardner produced an impressive display for GRT Yamaha, qualifying ahead of lead Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli and the second Honda rider of Iker Lecuona.

Michael van der Mark rounded off the top ten qualification spots, ensuring BMW has both riders inside the top half of the grid.

Scott Redding could only muster 11th place aboard his Panigale for Bonovo Racing, but finished the session quicker than Bimota rider Axel Bassani and last year’s treble winner Danilo Petrucci.

Dominique Aegerter ended up in 14th despite a crash on his final set of runs. Still, the Swiss rider separated both riders representing Barni Spark Racing, as Yari Montella followed closely behind.

The British duo of Alex Lowes and Jonathan Rea followed suit, the latter of whom returned for his race weekend of the season.

Garrett Gerloff mustered 18th place for Kawasaki, before rookies Bahattin Sofuoglu and Ryan Vickers closed out the grid ahead of Tito Rabat.

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Nicolo Bulega was left searching for answers after recording a double Sunday retirement at the Dutch WorldSBK round in Assen.

The championship leader had the perfect Saturday as he claimed his fourth win of the season, but an unexplainable double retirement on Sunday ended hopes of a possible treble.

The Italian’s retirement in the Superpole race forced him to start from tenth on the grid, but he carved his way through the field to hold a near three-second lead before the penultimate lap of Race 2.

Moments later, he came to a halt on his V4 R Panigale, visibly frustrated as he smashed the bike to pieces.

“Now It’s difficult [to take],” Bulega admitted post-race to media including Motorsport Week.

“I was very good. Honestly. I did a very good race. A lot of overtakes, I had a lot of fun.

“And then arrived two laps to go and the bike stopped for the second time today. Obviously, I’m not happy, but I don’t know what to say.

“Honestly, I didn’t ask [what the problem was from the Superpole race]. I think the problem that I feel was the same, but I don’t know if it’s really the same.

“Ah, when I put the gear here in the straight, the bike could turn off, and that’s completely off.”

His nearest challenger Toprak Razgatlioglu secured the Superpole and finished Race 2 in eighth position, reducing the deficit to 21 points.

“Yes, I dominate, but at least I bring at home not too much, because for, they give you points after the checkered flag, not just for being fast.

“Okay, I go home, with confidence that I am really strong, that we have a really good package. But here we lose too much [points].”

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Aruba.it Ducati team principal Stefano Cecconi has provided an important update on its 2026 WorldSBK rider line-up.

The contracts of incumbent riders Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista both expire at the end of the 2025 season.

Championship leader Bulega has previously stated his ambition of staying put for the new season and revealed that both parties haven’t discussed the finer details just yet.

“To be honest, we’re just on the third round, there is no rush,” Cecconi stated to WorldSBK.

“We just started talking about the future, but no decision will be taken anytime soon.

“I hope within a couple of months, before the beginning of the summer, to be 90% sure of what is going on.”

Ducati is eager to plan for 2026 as early as possible and has two plans in mind to secure Bulega’s future in Bologna.

“The sooner the better but like I said no rush, we will take our time whether that is a couple weeks or a few months.

“Talking about Nicolo, it might be a two-year contract, but as a plan B it may be 1+1.”

Alvaro Bautista likely to stay if he is ‘having fun’

Two-time champion Bautista looks set to remain with Ducati beyond 2025, but contract negations will start when he is enjoying his racing.

The Spaniard’s mindset in 2025 is rediscovering his feelings on the bike after a difficult 2024 season that saw only four wins.

Cecconi explained that this feeling is crucial in determining whether the 40-year-old will remain in the series.

“Regarding Alvaro, the first question is to see if he is going to be having fun again, as he has said many times,” Cecconi began.

“The feeling on the bike is very important for him to make the decision or not. He’s on a good path so far on the bike and if he can follow this feeling then we can talk about the future.

“As a policy normally we first make sure that the rider is going to stay, then we work on the new bike, it doesn’t make sure to work on the bike with a rider that you’re not sure if they’re staying or not.

“Renewal first, then we focus on the new bike with the riders we are sure we will have.”

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