Ducati’s dirt future
Bologna firm reveal their all-new Desmo450 MX racer
Ducati have pulled the covers off their prototype Desmo450 MX motocross racer, with plans to compete in the 2024 Italian championship ahead of a production run in the second half of 2025.
Unlike Triumph, who drip-fed their recent £9795 TF 250-X across a series of teasers, Ducati chose to launch the bike in full alongside their 2024 World Superbike and MotoGP machines (p60) at a special event in the village of Madonna di Campiglio.
These Monster Energybacked off-roaders will be ridden in the Italian Prestige
MX1 Championship by Alessandro Lupino, with veteran racer Antonio Cairoli spearheading testing.
“These bikes are also an expression of the path that Ducati has taken in recent years, investing in its future,” Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said. “The entry into motocross is in fact the clear example that our will to improve and our desire to win have no limits.
“We will have the opportunity to give ourselves the right energy for a season that promises to be full of challenges, in which we will try to confirm our leadership in the main track racing world championships and demonstrate our capabilities in a new terrain such as specialist off-road,” the Ducati boss continued. “Challenges have always encouraged us to bring out the best and we feel absolutely ready.”
With a first round of competition planned for March 16-17 2024, but production not due for well over a year, hard facts about the new machine remain scarce. However, from the images received, as well as the bike’s naming convention, it’s apparent that it will be a 450cc single-cylinder.
Given the Desmo450 name, it appears to suggest that the new machine will also use Ducati’s signature desmodromic valve system – something also used on their latest 659cc shortstroke single Superquadro
Mono engine, powering the new £10,995 Hypermotard 698 Mono supermoto.
Being a race bike, we’re unlikely to ever get true power and torque figures but expect them to be in line with the established Japanese and European competition – with the motor appearing to housed in a cradle style frame.
This is then paired with a clutch from STM Italy, plus a single exit Akrapovič exhaust system designed for competition use.
Away from the singlecylinder engine, both front and rear adjustable suspension comes courtesy of Showa – leading down to a pair of spoked Takasago Excel rims shod with Pirelli rubber.