While Kawasaki was celebrating its KX450 history at the SMX finale in the Coliseum and Triumph took to the historic track with the GOAT and 6X with their 2024 MX unveil, Ducati was waiting in the wings. Pundits expected the announcement in conjunction with EICMA that "The Red From Borgo Panigale" was going MX racing, but the wraps were ripped off two weeks before the big event in Milan following a surprise announcement that KTM Team Manager Tony Cairoli had left the orange brigade.... 24 hours later, he was announced as part of Ducati's R&D effort to race in the Italian MX series.
According to Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, "The only reason why limits exist is to challenge them."
He took to social media with the reasons why Ducati was doing a dirtbike. "This is what inspired the project that will see Ducati debut in the Italian Motocross Championship next season with a prototype that we have been working on for the past two years.
I am so excited for this new, historic chapter of Ducati that will give us the chance to be even closer to passionate motorcyclists of all kinds, with the creation of a completely new range of off-road engines and motorcycles that, gradually, will become part of a new product family."
Still a big step for the Borgo Panigale faithful! "It is unexplored terrain for us but starting with racing competition is the best way we know to develop our sportiest and most high-performance models," Domenicali explains. "Guided by this principle, we decided to cooperate with Tony Cairoli, an undisputed champion in his field who will help us design and perfect Ducati off-road motorcycles."
This future Ducatisti will come from the dirtbike arena, and Domenicali wants to welcome them to the brand immediately. "Our desire to allow a new community of young motorcyclists to join the Ducati family is strong and we are committed to doing everything we can to make them feel at home.
In Borgo Panigale, there are many off-road lovers, and we can't wait to see the Desmo in all its potential at work off the asphalt! Who’s as thrilled as we are?"