He might not have gotten the title, but this was certainly the season of consecration for Nicolò Bulega. Ducati put him at the center of their project in the Superbike, and he almost brought home the World Championship. And as if that weren't enough, his commitments will double in 2027, because we'll also see him in his role as test rider on the MotoGP.
That MotoGP that Nicolò could be riding at the last two rounds, namely, Portimao and Valencia, where he might be picking up Marc Marquez's baton. We talked about this and much more with Alberto Martinelli, who looks after the interests of the Aruba rider, along with the Neox Management agency.
The manager from Lombardy touched on several topics between the past, present, and future of his client.
"Personally, I'm very proud of this championship disputed by Nicolò," he told us. "He's shown the value and talent he possesses. At the same time, it's disturbing to have lost the championship because between Assen, Misano, and Balaton, we left some serious points along the way. Bulega, however, was the only one to stand up to Toprak and, in my opinion, Nicolò is as much of a phenomenon as Razgatlioglu."
Can we say that, in this 2025, even without a title, Nicolò has come full circle?
"I'd say he did! To sustain the pressure of a World Championship in this way, challenging a champion like Toprak, without ever going over the limit, is no small thing. Bulega's worst result was a second place, and that confirms his potential. For me, he showed that he has the ability and lucidity to manage the season, and these are the characteristics that only great champions have."
In the end, Valentino Rossi wasn't wrong when he decided to bet on him.
"Absolutely not! Valentino is a champion, and his eye has always been unimpeachable. In fact, he was among the first to believe in Nicolò's talent. In my opinion, we've recuperated a champion who, today, has a light in his eyes. I remember the time when he was sad, unmotivated while, now, he's a beacon. In these years, he has also grown on the human side, becoming a man, without too many distractions in his head."
What did you tell him after Toprak won the title?
"I told him only one thing, 'I understand the bitterness, but you'll see that it'll pass'. He should be proud of what he's done, especially his ability to go to the limit without ever going over it. In the end, the line between being a phenomenon and falling is very thin, but he never crossed it."
Alberto, in all this, there's also talk about Marquez's replacement in Portimao and Valencia. What do you think about that?
"I don't deny that I'm living this moment with great tension. In the end, racing in the MotoGP on that Ducati is the goal of a lifetime since, right now, you can't aspire to more than that. The fact is that he doesn't know the GP25 and would be making his debut in conditions that aren't entirely optimal. All of this creates anguish for me, because there hasn't been an approach, ,as we initially thought. On the one hand I wonder, 'will he surprise us'? On the other hand, on the other hand, I don't deny that I'm a little afraid because, first of all, he's riding a bike with Michelin; tires that have never been used. Also, there are the shapeshifters, the carbon brakes. Certainly, everyone is curious to see what's going to happen. Let's say there's a mix between anticipation and the fact that Nicolò can't really show his true potential."
Besides Nicolò, we know that your agency, Neox, looks after the interests of other great champions, like Cairoli. What do Nicolò and Tony have in common?
"In my opinion, there are several things in common between them. The first is the ability to handle pressure in the race, that is, to get into the dimension where you have to manage once you put the helmet on. The second is the race vision, which is to understand when it's time to settle and at the same time attack. The third aspect is understanding what the limit is without going over it with the risk of injury. Look, for example, at Herlings, who's been injured several times, throwing away three, four world championships."
Earlier you pointed out the newfound light in Nicolo's eyes.
"Exactly! I'd like Bulega to be able to pass that light on to other riders who are going through a difficult time in their lives. Nicolò has faced so many complicated moments, he seemed lost but, today, he proved his worth, and I'd like him to be a stimulus for everyone else, as well."
Looking back at Bulega's season, Assen and the Misano crash come to mind, as well as the tire mistake at Balaton.
"For me, the one with Bassani will remain a race accident, and it's certainly not because of what happened in Misano that Bulega lost the World Championship. Nicolò also made a mistake in Jerez by making Toprak fall in the Superpole Race. In fact, I never want to defend anyone on principle. Bulega made a mistake in the Sprin, and Race Direction rightly punished him for his mistake. What happened can happen to anyone, since we're racing, and our lives are at stake. However, I'd like to add one thing."
Go ahead!
"I'm an aggregative person who likes to include people. That said, I'd like Bassani and Bulega to get together over a beer. And I'd also like Alberto Vergani to be there, who's a friend and with whom there's a reciprocal admiration. And, if they want, Axel's and Nicolò's respective girlfriends are also welcome. I say this because I have esteem and respect for Bassani despite the fact that racing is a competition."
Alberto, knowing Axel and Nicolò, I guess it'll be just you and Vergani at the bar.
"Ahahahahahahahhhah, nice one," he said, smiling. "I certainly don't see Toprak and Bulega boating together because, in the end, it's hard to be friends with a rival you fight with on the track every weekend. But there should be competitiveness and, at the same time, some mutual respect."