Nicolo Bulega was reported to have set the pace on Ducati’s 2027 MotoGP prototype during a private test at Mugello on Thursday, according to GPone.com. The reported margin was significant: Bulega was said to be 1.2 seconds quicker than Takaaki Nakagami on the 850cc machine.
The timing matters because Ducati and its rivals are already preparing for next year’s 850cc MotoGP era while the current bikes are being readied for the British Grand Prix. Any early indication that one manufacturer has found speed with the new rules package is worth attention, and this test suggested Ducati may be starting from a strong place.
Why Ducati’s pace stands out
Pablo Nieto said he was very happy that the 850cc Ducati is fast, calling that the most important thing. He also pointed out that this will be a completely new era for everyone, which makes early development especially valuable.
At the same time, Nieto stressed that Ducati needs to keep working in the same atmosphere and continue doing very good work. For a new project like this, the first benchmark does not decide everything, but it can shape confidence inside the garage.
What it could mean for VR46 and Bulega
Bulega has been linked with VR46 for 2027, although the team has not officially confirmed its rider line-up. That makes the Mugello result more interesting, because it connects a reported future VR46 rider to a prototype that already appears to be showing strong pace.
Nieto also made clear that the championship picture remains active in the present. VR46 is still fighting for points, with five riders within 24 points of the title lead, and Nieto said the team must stay focused race by race before looking ahead to the overseas rounds.
There is also a separate equipment question around Fabio di Giannantonio. After two Sunday accidents with the new fairing at Sachsenring, he switched back to the older aero package in FP1 at Silverstone. Nieto said the difference between the two setups was only small, but the rider feels very good with the older fairing and was very fast with it at that track.
For now, the key takeaway is simple: Ducati’s 2027 prototype appears to be in a strong place, and Bulega was the rider at the center of the report. With a new 850cc era approaching, that kind of early pace is the sort of detail teams and riders will keep watching closely.
