Ducati to enter Italian Motocross Championship
Ducati has been working for two years on a prototype that will make its debut next season in the Italian Motocross Championship with the goal of validating the bike on the track.
According to Ducati, this is a multi-year project that will see the creation of a complete range of off-road engines and motorcycles. The models will gradually become part of a family of knobby motorcycles branded Ducati, starting with motocross.
The Bologna-based company has signed an agreement with nine-time Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli as a test rider for the new project. He will give important input for the development of the new motorcycle.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, comments: ”I am proud to announce Ducati’s entry into motocross. 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. We believe that the track is the best laboratory to develop and test the bikes that will then be available to customers and enthusiasts. This is why we have decided to cooperate with an undisputed champion like Tony Cairoli, who, together with the passion and dedication of many of us here in Borgo Panigale, will contribute to making Ducati as capable offroad as on the asphalt.”
Antonio Cairoli adds: “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. 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.”
Ducati has also signed a multi-year agreement with Maddii Racing, one of the most experienced teams in the motocross paddock, which will be the reference structure for the MX racing activities and will take part in the 2024 Italian Motocross Championship with Alessandro Lupino, eight-time Italian Champion and 2021 MXoN winner, also contracted to Ducati as racing and test rider.
The focus of the Ducati off-road project is a combination of the search for lightness, top-of-the-line components, and engines with a broad power delivery curve. The latter is obtained thanks to the use of the Desmodromic system, used on all of Ducati’s sports bikes.
Entering the off-road market will be a strategic challenge, according to Ducati, as they give thanks to the successes they’ve achieved in racing classes this year. We’ll be watching this as the development of the new motocross bike progresses. We are excited to see more manufacturers entering the off-road/motocross segment.
