Ducati 2027 Plan: Mir and Aldeguer Get Factory Bikes, Bulega Misses Out

Ducati Draws Its 2027 Factory Lines

Ducati has settled on its hierarchy for the 2027 MotoGP season, and the decision leaves one of its most promising young riders on the outside looking in. Joan Mir and Fermin Aldeguer are set to receive factory-spec Desmosedici machines, while Nicolo Bulega will not be among those granted works-level equipment, according to reports in the motorcycle sports press.

The decision signals how Ducati views the pecking order among its roster of riders as the Bologna manufacturer plans ahead for a season that is still more than a year away. Factory bikes in MotoGP carry significant advantages over satellite machinery, including priority access to the latest engine specifications, aerodynamic updates, and electronics development.

Why Mir and Aldeguer Are the Chosen Two

Joan Mir, the 2020 MotoGP world champion, has been working to rebuild his reputation after a difficult stint with Repsol Honda. A move to the Ducati structure gave him renewed hope, and Ducati appears to be rewarding that faith by placing him on a full factory machine for 2027.

Fermin Aldeguer is one of the most talked-about young talents to enter the premier class in recent seasons. The Spaniard came through the Moto2 ranks with considerable hype, and Ducati has clearly decided he is worth a full factory investment at this early stage of his MotoGP career.

Both riders getting works bikes points to Ducati running a broader factory program rather than concentrating all top-spec machinery in a single team.

Bulega Left Searching for a Path Forward

The harder story here is that of Nicolo Bulega. The Italian had been regarded as a serious candidate for a factory Ducati seat given his performances and his status within the manufacturer's development pipeline. Being passed over in favor of Mir and Aldeguer for 2027 factory equipment is a setback, even if it does not necessarily close the door on his MotoGP future entirely.

Bulega will need to reassess his options. Satellite machinery can still be competitive in the modern MotoGP era, particularly with Ducati hardware, but the gap in resources and priority updates between a factory seat and a customer ride is real and meaningful over the course of a full season.

What This Means for Ducati's Wider Strategy

Ducati has dominated MotoGP in recent years, and managing a large roster of competitive riders across multiple teams has become one of the more complex balancing acts in the paddock. Prioritizing Mir and Aldeguer suggests the manufacturer sees a combination of proven championship experience and high-ceiling youth as the formula for its 2027 factory assault.

The manufacturer has not officially confirmed the full details of its 2027 lineup publicly, but the direction of travel reported by Motorcycle Sports makes the internal thinking increasingly clear. For Bulega, for Mir, and for Aldeguer, the picture of next year's grid is beginning to take shape, even if the final contracts are not yet signed.