Large boots to fill, changing Nicolo Bulega with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
Images by VR46.
Images by VR46.
Franco Morbidelli is leaving the MotoGP paddock for the World Superbike grid, with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati workforce confirming the 31-year-old Italian for 2027 alongside Iker Lecuona. The transfer places Morbidelli on the manufacturing facility Panigale V4 R that carried newly topped champion Nicolo Bulega to the title this season.
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It quantities to a straight swap, with Bulega stepping as much as MotoGP alongside Fermin Aldeguer within the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group, the very outfit Morbidelli is vacating.
Bulega has been dominant in WSBK this season, so taking his place isn’t any straightforward process. That stated, Morbidelli’s résumé has its share of highlights. A VR46 Riders Academy alum, Morbidelli received the 2013 European Superstock 600 title earlier than taking the 2017 Moto2 crown as the primary Italian to win the category. His MotoGP debut adopted in 2018 with Honda, the place he earned Rookie of the Yr honors.
morbidelli swaps motogp for manufacturing facility ducati wsbk journey
He joined the Ducati fold in 2024 with Prima Pramac earlier than shifting to VR46 in 2025, taking two podiums and a Jerez Dash podium this yr. He’ll stay with the Italian model subsequent season, swapping out a Desmosedici for a Panigale V4 R.
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Ducati Corse Normal Supervisor Gigi Dall’Igna pointed to continuity as a key issue. “After a few years spent in MotoGP, he’ll carry to our WSBK challenge an especially useful wealth of expertise,” Dall’Igna stated. “We’re satisfied his transfer will even be supported by his deep data of the Ducati atmosphere and our working strategies, a side we contemplate notably vital given the brand new technical challenges awaiting us in 2027.”
morbidelli swaps motogp for manufacturing facility ducati wsbk journey
Morbidelli, for his half, saved expectations plain: “As all the time, I’ll do my greatest to dwell as much as a workforce that has fought on the prime for years and has simply received the Superbike World Championship. I’ll do the most effective job doable to realize nice outcomes collectively.”
Morbidelli additionally will not be the one contemporary MotoGP identify on the 2027 WSBK grid – Jack Miller and Brad Binder are making the leap too. He’ll have loads to measure himself in opposition to in Lecuona alone.
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