Nicolo Bulega, the World Superbike rider substituting for Marc Marquez aboard the manufacturing facility Ducati, has revealed the extent to which he needed to modify his driving for the Michelin tyre utilized in MotoGP.
On the similar time, he may very well be on the precise facet of that gulf when MotoGP switches to Pirelli rubber for 2027 – if he can land a experience.
Bulega scored some extent with fifteenth place in a cautious however respectable MotoGP debut in Portugal final weekend. Among the many Italian’s favorite matters at Portimao was the relative lack of efficiency from the Michelin entrance tyre below braking – as in comparison with the Pirelli utilized in World Superbike.
MotoGP switches its management tyre provider from Michelin to Pirelli in 2027, which is among the explanation why Ducati has enlisted Bulega to assist develop its 2027 MotoGP challenger alongside his World Superbike marketing campaign subsequent 12 months.
Having certified 18th, Bulega failed to complete the Saturday dash after a mistake below braking. However he stated that centered his thoughts on recalibrating his expectations on this division forward of his first full-length MotoGP race on Sunday.
“Actually, for me at the moment it was crucial to complete the race, as a result of yesterday I made an inexperienced mistake,” stated Bulega after the grand prix. “My solely goal at the moment was simply to complete the race. On the primary lap, I used to be very calm. I used to be simply making an attempt to heat the entrance tyre to know tips on how to brake.
Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
“I used to be repeating to myself all race lengthy, each time I braked, ‘Don’t brake prefer it’s a Pirelli, don’t brake prefer it’s a Pirelli’. The Pirelli [World Superbike tyre] offers you extra confidence. So for me it’s harder coming from Superbikes to MotoGP, since you come from a motorcycle that offers you numerous confidence to MotoGP with a Michelin that doesn’t offer you numerous confidence.
“I repeated in my thoughts all of the race, ‘Don’t brake prefer it’s a superbike, don’t brake prefer it’s a superbike!’ So it was a bit tough on the primary lap. Then, after I caught Miguel Oliveira and the fellows in entrance, I made a mistake at Flip 5. I went very huge and I misplaced two or three seconds.”
Setting his quickest lap on lap 23 of 25, when most riders did so early within the race, put Bulega’s studying curve in perspective.
“Within the final laps, I used to be making an attempt to adapt my driving model to the bike, and I feel I understood some issues which are attention-grabbing. I’ll attempt to [apply these] from the start [next weekend] in Valencia. My finest lap was with two laps to go, when the tyre was already completed. I used to be catching the fellows in entrance, however then the race was completed.
“So for me now, I’m not driving naturally. I’m fascinated by what I’ve to do on the bike. Whenever you experience like this, it’s tough to go quick.”
Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
With Marquez anticipated to be match to reclaim his seat subsequent season, the 2025 Valencia finale will probably be Bulega’s final MotoGP outing as issues stand. However the Italian underlined forward of the Portimao weekend that he was occupied with a contract for 2027 – significantly along with his World Superbike rival Toprak Razgatlioglu switching to the class subsequent 12 months.
Pirelli rubber and a guidelines reset would additionally make 2027 a sexy prospect, added Bulega.
“After I noticed Toprak go to MotoGP after which I noticed that in 2027 there would be the Pirelli tyre, I assumed, ‘I’m combating with Toprak, he’s going to MotoGP, in 2027 there would be the Pirelli’, so my concept has modified a bit.
“So sure, I would really like [to do MotoGP], particularly in 2027, when the bikes will probably be a bit simpler and a bit extra just like the Superbike.”
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