Who better to show off the capabilities of the new DesertX Rally bike than a Ducati dealer? Ducati North America is teaming Alexander Smith with veteran moto journalist Steve Kamrad on a pair of 2024 Ducati DesertX bikes in the NORRA Mexican 1000 Pro Rally Class. "Both riders' enduring commitment to off-road riding excellence and genuine Ducati relationships make them an excellent choice," says Jason Chinnock, CEO of Ducati North America. "We are honored to have them represent the team for Ducati North America as they embark on this journey with us."
Alexander Smith's relationship with Ducati spans over a decade, marked by remarkable achievements and a shared passion for motorcycling excellence. Smith, widely recognized for his racing ability, first captured the Ducati spotlight aboard a Hypermotard 1100 S in 2008 at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In 2010, he further solidified his legacy at Pikes Peak, debuting the Multistrada 1200 S with the Spider Grips Ducati team and again in 2011. Most recently, he completed the 2020 Mint 400 on the Scrambler Ducati Desert Sled as part of a two-rider team. Smith’s desert racing experience also includes the Dakar Rally, Moroccan Rally, and Baja 1000.
In addition to his racing career, Alexander Smith currently serves as the dealer principal at Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, California. He continues to inspire enthusiasts and foster a community of passionate riders through dealership group rides in Baja.
Steve Kamrad is a respected figure in motorcycle journalism who has contributed freelance work to leading outlets such as ADV Pulse, Common Tread, and Cycle World.
In addition to his contributions to motorcycle journalism, Steve is an adventure rider and privateer rally racer with numerous wins in navigation rallies, sprint rallies, and desert races. Competing in approximately 30 races annually, Steve's race experience and ingenuity have consistently placed him amongst the top competition, and this will be his debut for the NORRA Mexican 1000.
The NORRA Mexican 1000 is renowned as one of the most challenging off-road races in North America, spanning the entire Baja peninsula over six days. Furthermore, the MEXICAN 1000 Pro Rally Class course differs from other off-road vehicle courses and was designed specifically for motorcycles; riders are not allowed to use GPS but rather roadbook navigation.
In collaboration with technical partners Aurora Rally, Termignoni, Denali Electronics, and Pirelli, Ducati North America aims to showcase the DesertX Rally's capabilities with modifications necessary for desert rally racing at this level. At the same time, the race bikes maintain the majority of its main components that arrive in stock trim on the DesertX Rally, such as the KYB suspension, Excel Takasago rims, and the robust 937 cc Testastretta 11° desmodromic engine.
"Our partners have played a pivotal role in preparing the motorcycles for this challenging adventure,” adds Chinnock. “We extend our gratitude for their expertise, guidance, and solutions. While the standard DesertX has been proven as a solid platform in adventure motorcycling, with the new Rally model, our technical partners, and our riders, Alexander Smith and Steve Kamrad, we are poised to write an exciting new chapter for Ducati in the annals of off-road racing history."