Davide Bulega: “JNB project? I am motivated by passion and the desire to share my experiences”

Davide Bulega, born in Turin in 71, is the father of Nicolò, a rider who until last year competed in the Moto3 class with the Sky Racing Team VR46 and who this year will race for the same team in the Moto2 class, alongside Luca Marini.

Returning to Bulega "father", he was Italian champion of the 125 Sport Production and European champion of the 250 GP, team manager of the Lightspeed Kawasaki team until 2007, as well as test rider of the Cagiva 500cc in the 90s, one of the most beautiful and competitive motorbikes that the Cagiva has produced for the 500cc class.

Now Bulega Sr will make his long experience available to help young riders, but above all parents, to overcome and deal with the contractual jungle between rider and Team, from minibikes to the World Championship, this through the JNB Project, which however also expands to all athletes in general. Nicolò has now "grown up", now Davide wants to help new "levers" to grow and become professional drivers.

However, its commitment will not stop here, JNB has in fact become the exclusive concessionaire for "Dinner in the sky", an opportunity to enjoy an aperitif, lunch or dinner, in the exclusive breathtaking location of a table suspended 50 meters above sea level. height.

Furthermore, Davide will follow the Italtrans Moto2 Team as commercial manager, which this year will field the confirmed Andrea Locatelli and Enea Bastianini in the world championship. We interviewed him and asked him about all three projects, here's what he told us.

Davide, tell us about the JNB project?

“A few months ago I felt like offering technical assistance to families in contracts between the team and the driver; then I was lucky enough to meet some very interesting professionals with whom we extended our services to all sportspeople in general, cars, motorbikes, tennis, cycling etc etc., services that allow our clients to be able to make use of a team of professionals able to best follow the athlete and their entourage in all aspects, from athletic preparation to nutrition, from contractual to fiscal aspects, without obviously neglecting communication. The JNB Project can professionally and comprehensively accompany the athlete during his activity, on and off the field, allowing him to optimize his skills and resources to achieve the best possible results. To do this, you can choose to use all the services offered by JNB, or only those that are necessary, thus making use of only some of the experts who make up the team coordinated by me."

You have also become the new commercial director of the Italtrans Moto2 Team

“I have known the team for many years obviously, but I had never had any relationship with the management. Last summer, by pure chance on holiday, I met Laura Bertulessi, owner of Italtrans, that was the first contact; from which mutual knowledge then deepened and led to collaboration, born by building an equal relationship based on mutual respect and trust. Truly noble concept. In the 2019 season the main mission will be to set realistic goals and achieve them with determination, seriousness and motivation to make the Italtrans team grow as much as possible, generating economic income for the organization. I am also happy to make my motorcycling skills combined with my friendly personality available to the team. I will be able to take care of public relations with guests and sponsors to develop, maintain and improve relationships and retain sponsors. I will explain to them the regulations, curiosities and strategies of the drivers on the track. It will also be a lot of fun!”

Explain what “Dinner in the sky” is instead?:

“It's the opportunity to enjoy an aperitif, a lunch or a dinner, in the exclusive breathtaking location of a table suspended 50 meters above the ground! Anyone who has tried it has no doubts: it is a unique experience, one you never forget and among other things the courses are gastronomic proposals from starred chefs. I collaborate with them in advertising collection. From April 20th to May 5th they will be in Italy for the first time in Cattolica.”

Coming back to the JNB project, why do you do it?

“We start from the assumption that each of the professionals involved, including myself, is aware that it will not be easy to acquire customers, given the mistrust that exists in the sector, which among other things I partly understand. When I thought about this project, I did it motivated by passion and with the intention of sharing my experiences.”

Some might think it's an imitation of the VR46 Riders Academy…

“Eh, maybe! they are a global excellence, in my opinion unparalleled. The JNB is "two steps below", not for the quality of work of my professionals, but simply because the mission is different: our goal is to prepare the young pilot and his family to enter and access high-calibre realities with greater awareness world; it is an "initial roughing" job that we will do on the budding pilots, which is fundamental for us and which in any case can only be preparatory for accessing structures such as the VR46 Academy for example... Paradoxically any Academy will take these pilots in the future , will have much less work to do on them, off the track, and will be able to dedicate much more time to on-track activities.”

Do you think you might annoy someone?

"No because? The Italian Constitution recognizes the right to work for all citizens. I don't step on anyone's toes, it's my job and I do it with my head held high."

Could you put your child in difficulty with your projects?

“What father would carry out an activity knowing that he would put his child in difficulty? But above all, how could I put him in difficulty with my work? Nicolò is no longer the blond boy on minibikes, he has grown up, he is in the world championship and is a very well followed rider, both
professionally and humanly. For him, in his time, I blindly entrusted myself to the Team he races for, to the immense experience and professionalism of the people who manage it and I am proud of him and of the choices we have made in the past, together. But today I can no longer do anything for him, except his father and it is obvious that I cannot stay at home and not work. My life has taken place entirely around motorbikes, between being a rider, being the owner of a team, managing sponsors, contracts... I know how to do these things, and these I do. Conversely, maybe I was a dentist.”

Someone talks about misunderstandings and arguments between you and Nicolò

"Yes, it's true! We argue almost every day, for example when he answers badly, when he arrives late at night, when in my opinion he spends too much, when he doesn't take away the rubbish, well, let's say I'm a dad, and for him I'm a pain in the ass dad. In life I have never given him an easy win, on the contrary, and perhaps I regret it a little (laughs) because for me it was essential that he learn right away that not everything is due, that you have to conquer things, that if you you conquer them with strength and determination have more flavor. But, I would say, everything is normal for managing a father-son relationship. In reality we are a very ordinary Italian family, one of those in which the concept of "home", the beautiful one, is consolidated more and more in our relationship every day, as we grow and mature together."