Sam Lowes has backed Nicolo Bulega. He has done so from within: they share a box at Aruba.it Racing Ducati in the World Superbikes Championship. The British rider believes the Italian is one of the best pilots he has seen in his career and states that he deserves an opportunity in MotoGP.

The statements, reported by crash.net, come at a sensitive moment in the market. Ducati has several pending decisions for 2026 and 2027. Bulega, meanwhile, remains the big name in the Superbikes paddock.

The weight of the statement: Lowes speaks with knowledge of the facts

Lowes is not an outside commentator. He is Bulega's teammate, has spent years in Moto2, knows the Grand Prix paddock and now lives just meters away from the Italian box every WorldSBK weekend. That gives weight to his words.

The British rider argues that Bulega has the level to compete in MotoGP. It is not a courtesy phrase: it is the reading of a pilot who shares data, telemetry and technical meetings with him.

In a paddock where generic praise abounds, this one has a different texture. It comes from the box.

Who is Nicolo Bulega and why Ducati is interested

Bulega is Italian, has been part of the Ducati programme for years and made the jump from Moto2 to WorldSBK with the official Panigale V4 R of the Aruba.it team. That move, at the time, seemed like a lateral step. Today it is understood as a well-calculated move by the Borgo Panigale brand.

The rider belongs to the Ducati ecosystem: same structure, same engineering, same technical references. Any promotion to MotoGP would not require rebuilding his environment from scratch. In a market where official seats are scarce, that is an advantage.

The question is not whether Ducati wants him in MotoGP. It is when and where.

The market context: why this praise comes now

The 2026 MotoGP grid is practically closed. The 2027 grid is not. And that is where Lowes' backing finds its editorial meaning.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, another name linked to the Ducati universe, has stated to motorsport.com that he aspires to a factory contract and that signing for less would be "a step backwards". Pecco Bagnaia remains the reference of the official project. Marc Márquez occupies the other factory seat. The entry doors for Bulega, today, pass through satellite structures or through chain movements that may occur from 2027 onwards.

Lowes' message works, on that board, as a public vote from within. It does not open doors, but it points them out.

What Bulega has to do

The formula is known and demanding:

• Maintain the level until the end of the season in WorldSBK. Any drop in the final stretch of the championship weakens the argument.
• Wait for the right window on the MotoGP grid. Seats are not created, they are freed up.
• Ducati must support the move. Without the backing of the factory, the jump from WorldSBK to MotoGP usually remains an attempt.

Recent precedents are scarce and mixed. It is not an automatic transfer. But when it has worked, it has been with a rider backed by his brand and with a seat available at the exact moment.

Frequently asked questions

Has Bulega competed in MotoGP before?

No. His Grand Prix career developed in Moto3 and Moto2 before the jump to WorldSBK with Ducati.

What does Lowes' praise mean in market terms?

It is not a contractual confirmation. It is a public endorsement from the box, useful as a signal but not as a commitment.

Is the direct jump from WorldSBK to MotoGP common?

It is not the most common. It usually requires the backing of the manufacturer and a free seat at the right moment.

When could the move happen?

The 2026 grid is almost closed. The realistic window, if it occurs, points to 2027.

The next relevant statement will not be a declaration. It will be the calendar.