Nicolo Bulega is to leave both the VR46 Ri🥂ders Academy and Sky Raci💎ng VR46 Moto2 Team at the end of this season.

The young Italian won the 2015 CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship fo🐟r Valentino Rossi's Junior Team, leading to a VR46 g📖rand prix ride the following year.

Bulega's rookie season brought one pole position, two podiums, two fastest laps♉ and seventh in the world championship. Results he has𒈔 been unable to repeat since.

At 1.81m and 70kg, Bulega's size was seen as a distant disadvantage in Moto3 and he was duly promoted to Moto2 by VR4⛄6 this season. The 19-year-old has again shone brighter in qualifying, with a best of fourth on the grid but only ninth in a race.

"V꧃R46 for me is like a second family," Bulega said upon announcing the split.

"I learned 🐼a lot from the🐓m and I feel privileged to have been part of this group and I can proudly say that I was a rider of my absolute idol Valentino Rossi.

"After so many seasons with the same colours and with the same people, however, now is the time when I have to try to walk on my 𒈔own legs and undertake new professional experiences to complete me as a sportsman and a person.

"It will not be an easy c🎀hallenge, indeed, but𝔉 let's say that this aspect will also serve as a stimulus.

"I𝄹 want to thank firstly Valentino Rossi, who believed in me and who was - and I hope can remain - an older broth♍er, a friend, a great example. I thank Uccio, a friend with whom I always had an excellent relationship.

"But the list of people to thank is endless, from Albi, t♔o Luca Marini, to all those who work at VR46 who were part of my great dream of racing in the world ꦿchampionship. I would also like to dedicate a special thanks to Sky who has always believed in me."

Bulega is set to sign for a rival Moto2 team in 2020, in turn meaning the Kalex VR46 s🌺eat along🥀side Marini is now up for grabs.