Ducati, the Italian motorcycle powerhouse, made a grand entrance into the world of Motocross with the debut of its Ducati Desmo 450 MX in the Italian Motocross Pro-Prestige MX1 Championship.
Piloted by Alessandro Lupino, the Desmo 450 MX set the pace by clinching pole position and securing victory in the first heat of its inaugural race. Despite a challenging start in the second heat, Lupino showcased remarkable resilience to finish seventh, ultimately securing second place overall in the round.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, expressed his excitement, stating, “This weekend in Mantua, we witnessed the dawn of a new era for Ducati. Alessandro Lupino and our team delivered an outstanding performance in our debut Motocross race, providing invaluable insights for the development of our forthcoming motorcycle. Congratulations to Alessandro and our entire off-road team for this remarkable achievement.”
Reflecting on his experience, Alessandro Lupino, the official rider of the Ducati Corse R&D – Factory MX Team, shared his thoughts, “It was truly an unforgettable experience to debut with Ducati. Despite the challenges faced in the second heat, I am honored to have been part of this historic journey. My heartfelt thanks to the team for their exceptional efforts.”
The Ducati Desmo 450 MX marks Ducati’s foray into off-road racing, boasting advanced features such as lightweight design, high-performance components, and the renowned Desmodromic system. This milestone debut serves as a pivotal step in Ducati’s quest to introduce a comprehensive range of off-road motorcycles, slated for production in 2025.
The next leg of the Italian Motocross Championship is scheduled for April 27-28 at the Cingoli (MC) circuit. In the meantime, the Ducati Corse R&D – Factory MX Team will continue their preparations with Alessandro Lupino and Tony Cairoli, maintaining their momentum from the successful debut in Mantua.
