Nicolo Bulega is deep ahead in MotoGP pre‑season tests, having logged more kilometres on the brand‑new 850 cc prototypes than any other rider.
Bulega’s Record‑Speed Test Days
With two official closed‑door sessions behind the podium at Brno and Spielberg, Bulega carried Ducati’s 850 cc machine onto Pirelli tyres for ten days of standing‑alone testing. Those kilometres give him a hands‑on advantage that begins to outweigh the normal 2‑day test rhythm the rest of the grid will experience next season.
Irregular Test Regimes for the Rest
Only four riders – Quartararo, Bagnaia, Martin and Ogura – will first ride a 850 cc prototype on Pirelli tyres on the post‑season test in Valencia on 1 December. All other full‑time riders, including Fabio Di Giannantonio, have been left to graze just two days of testing before the season starts, with a three‑day weekend entirely cut from the calendar. The planned shakedown at Sepang lets new bike riders acquire a bit of extra acclimatisation, but even those minutes feel uphill for those without prior Pirelli exposure.
Team Perspectives on Testing Fairness
Pol Espargaro – who has been riding the new KTM 850 cc during private tests in Mugello – criticised Bulega’s episode, calling it “unfair” and suggesting that a rider who has built the bike “around him” will know the tyres better than the field. Marquez echoed this sentiment, noting Bulega’s “information advantage” in being “fast” and “in his prime.” However, Alex Marquez from Gresini reminded observers that apart from Bulega, the rest will not see a meaningful mechanical edge, as Pirelli’s tyres shift daily and the limits of a 1000 cc test reveal little about the new 850 cc dynamics.
Moto2 Rookies Feel Disadvantage
Riders who move up from Moto2 – such as Bastianini, who is transferring to Trackhouse Aprilia – argue they must see a formal test on a 1000 cc bike with Pirelli tyres, a test that Yamaha withheld from Quartararo. Bastianini stressed that granting every rider a chance to try Pirelli’s products earlier would level the field, as learning the tyres’ characteristics in a single day in Valencia is “very complicated.” Moto2 newcomers and same‑season riders alike claim that limited testing postpones their adjustment period, potentially compromising early race standings.
Implications for the 2027 Calendar
The Valencia session will focus on rainy conditions, forcing many competitors to utilise the environment to experiment with small setup tweaks, instead of a full‑scale grip evaluation. The reduced test schedule—including the removal of the Sepang three‑day test and a two‑day program at Buriram—compresses the riders’ learning curves, widening the performance gap for those ready with pre‑existing mileage on the new machinery.
In short, wherever the season begins, Bulega’s pre‑season mileage will keep him several seconds ahead of the others until the rest start to piece together their setup in the limited test window.
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