Bulega Debuts in MotoGP as Ducati Lenovo Heads to Portugal

Nicolò Bulega makes his highly anticipated MotoGP debut at Portimão, replacing Marc Márquez for Ducati Lenovo as Pecco Bagnaia targets a strong finish to secure third in the World Championship.

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The Ducati Lenovo Team arrives at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve with history already on its side, but with an important new chapter about to begin.

Portimão, a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 2020, has been good to Ducati. Pecco Bagnaia claimed victory here in 2023, while Jorge Martin, also on a Ducati, won in 2024. The layout’s violent elevation changes, blind crests and brutal braking zones suit the Desmosedici GP’s strengths, but this weekend’s storyline goes beyond results.

This is the weekend Nicolò Bulega steps onto the Premier Class stage.

Bulega’s first MotoGP race and his 100th GP start

WorldSBK runner-up Nicolò Bulega will replace newly-crowned World Champion Marc Márquez for the final two GPs of 2025. A test at Jerez last Thursday gave him his first taste of the Desmosedici GP, but the learning begins for real on Friday morning when MotoGP Free Practice 1 rolls out at 10.45 am local time.

“I’m happy and at the same time a little nervous about this debut… I have no expectations in terms of results,” Bulega said. “I want to start gaining confidence with the Desmosedici GP. Portimão is very unique and demanding.”

This GP also marks Bulega’s 100th career start in Grand Prix racing, a symbolic milestone for a rider who has rebuilt his career through SuperSport and Superbike success.

Bagnaia is still fighting for P3 overall

Bagnaia arrives in Portugal with momentum, despite a frustrating Sunday in Sepang. His Sprint victory there and his competitive pace were crucial signs that he has rediscovered trust with his machine after a difficult run of GPs.

“We were competitive all weekend in Malaysia, something we’d been missing,” Bagnaia said. “Portimão is unique. We’re working to find the same confidence we had in Sepang.”

Bagnaia currently sits fourth in the World Championship on 286 points, with two rounds remaining to fight for P3.

The Ducati position heading into Portugal

With Marc Márquez already crowned 2025 MotoGP World Champion, Ducati has also secured both the Constructors’ and Teams’ titles. The final two races are now about defining the finishing statement: Bulega’s debut, Bagnaia’s charge for third, and maintaining Ducati’s dominance on a track where it already owns the last two GP victories.

MotoGP returns to action on Friday, 7 November, at 10:45 am local for Free Practice 1, the moment Nicolò Bulega officially joins the Premier Class and Ducati’s next chapter begins.