Ducati Desmo450 MX Wins On Italian Motocross Championship Debut

Ducati’s off-road racing division, Ducati Corse Off-Road, had a historic dream start with the Ducati Desmo450 MX winning its first motocross race at the Italian MX1 Championship. The bike was ridden by eight-time Italian champ Alessandro Lupino. He not only topped the timesheets in free practice and qualifying but also led the opening race from start to finish to score a fairytale maiden victory for the Ducati Corse R&D Factory MX squad.  

The Main Hero

All eyes were on the Desmo450 MX, which is Ducati’s first motocross bike in ages and is also taking part in the competition as a prototype. After its unveiling last year in December, the first race on Sunday has given Ducati engineers the much-needed data to develop the Desmo450 MX further. The victory also affirms the technological base of the prototype and that the brand is in the right direction of development. 

The main focus here is to create a bike that is light and at the same time characterised by an engine with a broad torque curve. Top-of-the-line components have been implemented with the Desmo450 MX, which includes the brand’s iconic Desmo valve system which is in use in all the sport bikes of the Borgo Panigale company starting from MotoGP. 

The Desmo450 MX Debut

The data collected from all these races will eventually see Ducati giving birth to an all-new range of motocross motorcycles. “We have gathered a lot of information which will be fundamental to best develop the bike that will be available to all enthusiasts next year,” further clarified, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. 

Therefore, by late 2025, a completely new range of off-road motorcycles will launch which will be based on the same platform that currently underpins the Ducati Desmo450 MX.