Ducati to enter motocross segment

Ducati are joining Triumph in entering the motocross field, with the brand from Borgo Panigale to make their competition debut in 2024. Ducati’s first ever motocross bike will be followed by a family of models to suit other off-road disciplines.

While describing the decision to enter the off-road market as very challenging, Ducati adds that expanding their presence into “unexplored terrain” will, importantly, bring new, young motorcyclists to “the large community of Ducatisti”.

“I am proud to announce Ducati's entry into motocross,” said CEO Claudio Domenicali. “A totally new world for Ducati in which we want to bring our talent in designing lightweight motorcycles, with excellent components and high performance and - above all - which can excite more and more motorcyclists.”

The MX project started in 2021 with the development of a prototype. This past October, Ducati announced they’d signed Antonio Cairoli as test rider for the programme. A nine-time MXGP World Champion and part of Italy’s MXoN-winning team in 2020, Cairoli retired from MXGP at the end of 2021, but raced in the AMA Pro MX Championship in 2022.

“I am extremely happy to become part of the universe of Ducati, which has always been a symbol of Italian spirit throughout the world, and to begin this exciting new adventure, in an all-Italian project,” said 38-year-old Cairoli. “Being able to make my contribution to the development of the Borgo Panigale motocross bike is a dream come true and a source of great pride for me.”

Leading Italian MX team, Maddii Racing, are also involved in the project and will debut the all-new Ducati in the 2024 Italian Motocross Championship with eight-time national champion Alessandro Lupino.

Ducati’s goals for the MX project have been described as being light in weight, using top-of-the-line components and ensuring a very broad power delivery. The only mechanical component confirmed so far is that the engine will feature the desmodromic valve system, as used in Ducati’s high-performance road and race bikes. Like those same race bikes, what’s developed on the track under the MX programme will be later offered to the public.