Finishing fifteenth and scoring a single point may not sound like much, but for Niccolò Bulega, it marked an important first step in MotoGP. The vice-champion of WorldSBK completed his first full race distance at the Portuguese Grand Prix, showing progress and control aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP25 after a difficult weekend.
“It’s not about the point itself,” Bulega explained. “What matters is that by the end of the race, I started to gain confidence. This was my first long run on the Ducati because, due to bad weather and my own mistakes, I never managed to do many laps before. Even though it was a race, for me it felt like a training session — that’s when I learned the most. My best lap came two laps from the finish on worn tyres, so there’s something positive in that.”
The Italian admitted that Saturday’s crash had shaken his confidence, so his main goal for Sunday was simply to finish. “After yesterday, I wanted to stay calm and avoid stupid mistakes. I made sure to warm up the front properly and focus on bringing the bike home. Today was about understanding the GP25 and how to adapt to MotoGP.”
When asked if he now feels like a true MotoGP rider, Bulega was cautious:
“It’s too early to say. I still have a lot to improve — my starts are poor, I make rookie mistakes, and I don’t yet ride like I should. But if I can fix a few things and just stay on the bike, I know I’ll improve.”
The biggest challenge, he said, comes from the difference in tyres between WorldSBK and MotoGP.
“If the brakes work the same, the tyres don’t. That’s the hardest thing to understand. Pirelli gives you much more confidence — it’s like black and white compared to Michelin. With Pirelli, you can do things that here you just can’t. You have to ride in the opposite way. It’s like learning to ride all over again. Every corner, I had to tell myself not to brake too hard. Yesterday’s crash happened because I instinctively rode like I was still on Pirellis. Today, I changed my approach. I rode smart and focused on finishing.”
The 2023 Supersport champion also shared details about a near-miss in the race:
“When I caught up to Oliveira and the group ahead, I went wide at Turn 5 and lost a few seconds. I was fighting the ride-height device and had to back off. I realized I was being too aggressive, so I released the brake to avoid another crash. After that, I just tried to adapt and learn. I understood some things I’ll apply next year at the Sepang tests — but when I finally found my rhythm, it was already too late.”
Asked about Francesco Bagnaia, who suffered another crash, Bulega was sympathetic:
“I don’t think he even knows what’s happening. I can’t believe a rider of his level can be so inconsistent. He’s incredibly strong when everything works, but this year he’s had more bad races than good ones. Once he finds his confidence again, very few will be able to beat him.”
Looking ahead to Valencia, Bulega expects another learning experience:
“I haven’t raced there since 2021, so it won’t be easy. But the tests afterward will be important for me. I’m starting to gain confidence, but MotoGP doesn’t let you just hop on and be fast — if it were that easy, everyone would be here.”
Bulega’s debut may not have been spectacular, but it was significant. The Italian rookie is beginning to understand what it takes to compete at the highest level — and with patience, he’s confident the results will come.
