Nicolo Bulega replaces Michael Ruben Rinaldi at Ducati in WSBK for 2024

Nicolo Bulega, the current leader of the World Supersport Championship, is set to make his debut in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship alongside reigning champion Alvaro Bautista, racing for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati; Bulega, who has consistently impressed in WorldSSP, will replace Michael Ruben Rinaldi, concluding Rinaldi's three-season tenure with Ducati after securing three wins and 16 podiums during his time with the team; Bulega's career journey includes Moto3 and Moto2 experience before transitioning to World Supersport, where he has achieved notable success, including four wins in the 2023 season. As the current leader of the WorldSSP series, Bulega's stellar performance in the 2023 season had positioned him as the frontrunner for replacing Rinaldi in the Ducati factory team. With Rinaldi's imminent departure from Ducati, Bulega's inclusion in the factory squad alongside Bautista leaves only Barni, Motocorsa, and GoEleven as the remaining Ducati-affiliated teams yet to unveil their plans. It's anticipated that Danilo Petrucci will continue with Barni, Axel Bassani will maintain his position at Motocorsa, and Andrea Iannone is likely to join the GoEleven outfit.