Aruba.it Racing Ducati team principal Stefano Cecconi expressed both surprise and relief at Nicolo Bulega’s dominant showing in the 2026 WorldSBK season. Bulega has fiercely commanded the series, securing 26 wins out of 30 races and clinching nine out of ten pole positions.
He earned the championship title at the Cremona Circuit, joining Max Biaggi as the only Italian riders to win a WorldSBK crown on home soil. From the season opener at Phillip Island, Bulega established himself as the class benchmark, but it was his consistency in the following races that truly amazed Cecconi.
“Honestly, every race weekend, he just kept raising the bar,” Cecconi told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 at Cremona. “Phillip Island is one of his favored tracks, so his speed there wasn’t too shocking, but to see him perfect across all tracks, corners, and conditions — that was remarkable. Even with a long streak of 25 wins interrupted only by Iker at Donington Park, Bulega remained strong with a second place. It’s been unbelievable.”
Cecconi reflected on Bulega’s journey, which began at the end of 2021 when he joined Aruba.it Racing’s World Supersport team as part of their new Panigale V2 project. They sought a young yet experienced rider, and Bulega was the ideal fit.
“He had significant experience across categories but was still young. We witnessed his growth in confidence and race management — winning the World Supersport title on his second attempt,” Cecconi explained. “The transition to Superbike felt natural after testing, and to win his first Superbike race at a challenging track like Phillip Island took us by surprise. He finished second as a rookie and again after a fierce battle with Toprak Razgatlioglu the following year—Toprak being one of the sport’s toughest competitors.”
“This season, Bulega showed impeccable maturity. The next logical step will be MotoGP, where I’m confident he’ll also succeed,” Cecconi concluded.
Fan Take: Nicolo Bulega’s extraordinary performance underscores a new era of talent rising in WorldSBK, promising thrilling competition ahead. His potential move to MotoGP could deepen the bridge between the two premier classes, enhancing the sport’s global appeal.
Source: www.crash.net
