Morbidelli to join Aruba.it Racing Ducati in 2027

Franco Morbidelli will join Aruba.it Racing Ducati in the Superbike World Championship in 2027, replacing Nicolò Bulega and partnering Iker Lecuona, the team announced. The move will take the Italian rider from MotoGP to WorldSBK while keeping him on a Ducati, according to the announcement. Morbidelli, 31, has raced in the MotoGP paddock for 14 seasons, first in Moto2 and then in the premier class. His career highlights include the 2017 Moto2 world title and three MotoGP victories. In 2020, he finished runner-up in the MotoGP championship. He joined Ducati in 2024 and has competed with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team since 2025. Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna said Morbidelli’s experience at the highest levels of motorcycle racing and familiarity with Ducati’s working methods would benefit the WorldSBK project. He pointed to technical challenges expected in 2027, saying the rider’s ability to adapt and technical knowledge would be valuable to the team. Aruba.it Racing Team Principal Stefano Cecconi also cited Morbidelli’s experience with the tyres expected to be used in 2027, saying it could help the team gather feedback.