Ducati is venturing into the world of motocross with the introduction of the Ducati Desmo450 MX. The competition bike is currently being developed by Italian motocross riders Antonio "Tony" Cairoli and Alessandro Lupino. While Cairoli will assist with training and development, Lupino will ride the bike in competition during the 2024 Prestige Italian Motocross Championship in the MX1 class.
Ducati's main goal for the first racing season is to gather and analyze data to further develop the Desmo450 MX. The company plans to use the knowledge gained to refine the bike and aims to start production in late 2025.
During Ducati's Campioni in Pista 2024 presentation, Cairoli and Lupino expressed their excitement about the progress of the new bike. They found it encouraging that the bike performed well during initial test rides and believe there is room for further improvement.
The 2024 Italian Motocross Championship will likely attract more international attention due to Ducati's involvement. The championship schedule includes races in Mantua, Cingoli, Montevarchi, Ponte a Egola, Castiglione del Lago, and Faenza.
As of now, it is unclear if the races will be livestreamed internationally, but updates will be provided by RideApart. The development of the Ducati Desmo450 MX and its entry into motocross racing marks an exciting new chapter for Ducati in the off-road segment.
Source : Ducati YouTube
