TEN THINGS ABOUT DUCATI’S NEW FOCUS ON MOTOCROSS

(1) Radio origins. Ducati was founded in Bologna, Italy, in 1926, not as a motorcycle brand, but as a producer of radio components. In 1935, the Ducati brothers—Adriano, Marcello and Bruno—began building a new facility, which was considered one of the most modern manufacturing facilities in the world. They employed over 5000 workers by the time it was finished, but WWII started in 1939. Unfortunately, Hitler forced the Ducati brothers to make radios for the Axis powers, and in October of 1944, American B-24 Liberator bombers flattened the facility, ultimately ending Ducati’s radio-producing business. 

(2) Bicycles. After losing their radio manufacturing facility, the Ducati brothers saw an opportunity for growth in the transportation space, and they began making motorized bicycles, starting with a small engine called the Cucciolo. Then, the Ducati brothers went through hardship that forced them to forfeit their company to the Italian government in 1948. Over the years, Ducati has had several owners, and in 2012, it was bought by the Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley and more. 

(3) Racing roots. Ducati is famous for its desmodromic valve system, which was designed by Fabio Taglioni and debuted on their first road race bike at the 1956 Swedish Grand Prix at Hedemora. The engine made 19 horsepower, and it could rev to 15,000 rpm—incredible considering that four-strokes in the 1950s couldn’t rev above 10,000 rpm. Factory racer Degli Antoni took the Ducati 125cc race bike and lapped the entire field on his way to victory, putting Ducati on the map and jump-starting the racing legacy that Ducati is now known for. Unfortunately, a month later Antoni was killed in a practice crash in Monza’s Lesmo Curve. He was 27 years old.. 

(4) Italian roots. Italians are proud of their heritage, and Ducati is no exception. The Ducati headquarters have always been based in the city of Bologna in the northern Italian region of Borgo Panigale. The term “Borgo Panigale” is used often in Ducati’s marketing literature, plus “Panigale” is the name of one of their high-end street bikes. Ducati being referred to as the Borgo Panigale manufacturer is like FMF Racing being referred to as the California manufacturer; however, most American companies prefer the term “American-made” to “Californian-made.” 

(5) Desmodromic valves. Ducati has stood out from the pack thanks to its desmodromic valve system. Unlike the traditional spring-operated valves inside a four-stroke engine, this system uses a separate, spring-less gear mechanism to open and close the intake and exhaust valves, allowing for high-revving performance and strong torque at low revs. The Italians claim the Desmo450 makes 70 percent of maximum torque at just 4200 rpm. Ducati also claims a peak horsepower of 63.5 at 9400 rpm, a peak torque of 39.5 pound-feet at 7500 rpm, with the rev limiter set at 11,900 rpm. Ducati has changed owners several times over the years, so we forgive them for claiming that the 2026 Ducati Desmo450 is their first-ever motocross bike—they are forgetting the 1971 Ducati 450 R/T Desmo. It was a one- year-only model, made specifically for the America market only.  Learn more about the 1971 Desmo by Clicking Here.

(6) Off-road entrance. Ducati’s 2026 Desmo450 motocross bike is set to retail for $11,495 and be available in the U.S. in July of 2025, but you should know that this isn’t the first time Ducati has sold a desmodromic motocrosser in America. Ducati’s first production Desmo motocross bike sold was the 1971 Ducati 450 R/T Desmo. Unfortunately, frame issues meant that the motocross model only lasted one year before Ducati discontinued it.

(7) Personnel. Ducati has been intentional about hiring top-quality people. The most shocking news came when longtime KTM rider and then-Red Bull KTM team manager Antonio Cairoli announced that he was leaving KTM to join Ducati to help develop their new motocrosser. In the U.S., Ducati has Troy Lee (former factory team owner) and Rick Zielfelder, owner of Factory Connection suspension and former owner of the Geico Honda team, preparing to operate the factory Ducati Supercross and motocross teams in 2026. 

(8) Open-door development. In 2024, Ducati made headlines by announcing its entry into motocross. It is developing a 450cc four-stroke motocross bike entirely in-house. Unlike Triumph, which developed its bikes behind closed doors. Ducati started racing the prototype Desmo 450 immediately with test rider Alessandro Lupino in the 2024 Italian Motocross Championship with guest appearances by Tony Cairoli. Fast-forward to 2025, Swiss rider Jeremy Seewer and Italian rider Mattia Guadagnini are racing the factory Ducati Desmo450 worldwide in the MXGP series. Now, Alessandro Lupino is racing the Desmo250 in the Italian Championship before hiring 250 riders to race it in the MXGP series in 2026.

(9) New audience. Triumph was the most recent old-line manufacturer to add motocross bikes to its previously street-only portfolio. What’s the motivation for entering the dirt market? Ducati is expanding its horizons by attracting a younger demographic. The average age for a Triumph/Ducati owner is much older than the average dirt bike rider.

(10) Traction control. The Ducati Desmo450 has a list of unique features that come standard. One of the exciting points is traction control. Ducati claims to offer the first motocross bike with traction control capable of defining rear-wheel slippage that has a patent pending on it. Plus, when traction control is on, you’ll be able to temporarily disengage it at any point on the track when you slip the clutch.