The second Aruba.it Racing - Ducati seat is available in WorldSBK for 2024 and it looks like Ducati may be getting their Supersport front runner ready for a Superbike debut next season.
This week Nicolo Bulega will be testing the Ducati Panigale V4 R around Mugello throughout a two day test. This will be the second time that the Italian has officially tested the Ducati Superbike after he first swung his leg over it at Jerez a few months back.
Bulega currently leads the World Supersport Championship for the Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team by 33 points. So far this season the young Italian has stood on the podium six times in the first eight races, five of these podiums were race wins.
It would only seem natural for Ducati to promote Bulega into their World Superbike lineup with the form that he is currently showing in Supersport. With this being his second test on the Panigale V4 R it is clear that Ducati do have him in mind when it comes to their 2024 options.
Bulega could even be in line to be Alvaro Bautista's teammate for next season in the main Ducati squad. Currently the number two bike in the Aruba.it Racing squad does not have a rider, and where Michael Ruben Rinaldi is seventh in the Championship other riders will be aiming to take his seat come next season.
Ducati do have several options when it comes to their 2024 lineup with Rinaldi, Axel Bassani, Danilo Petrucci and Philipp Oettl already in World Superbikes on Ducati machinery. The two most likely of those four riders to get the Aruba.it ride would have to be Rinaldi or Bassani, but after Bassani's antics in Barcelona he could be lower on the list now.
With Bulega already having links to the Aruba.it outfit due to riding for them in Supersport, and how he has been given a second test on the Superbike, it seems likely that he could be the rider to partner Bautista in 2024.