First look at all-new Ducati Desmo450 MX

Ducati has unveiled its first dedicated motocross bike, but it will be some time before punters can get their hands on one.

The all-new Ducati Desmo450 MX will be ridden by Alessandro Lupino in the 2024 Italian Motocross Pro Prestige MX1 Championship, while nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli will be heavily involved in the testing and development program.

A production version is currently slated for the second half of 2025, with Ducati to use the data and information collected from the racing program to develop it.

Details on the new model are still thin, but the livery on the two Ducati Corse racing prototypes presented alongside Cairoli and Lupino provides a few hints.

It appears the bike will feature Showa suspension, Galfer and Brembo braking components, a full Akrapovic exhaust system, GET electronics, EXCEL rims, a DID chain, Pirelli tyres, and a TwinAir filter. Monster Energy appears to be a major partner, while the bike also shows links to Lenovo, Shell and Flex-Box.

Ducati had previously revealed that the single-cylinder engine used in the bike will employ the desmodromic valve system used on its sportsbikes and MotoGP bikes.

The launch of Ducati’s first motocross program comes after Triumph pulled the covers off its new TF 250-X motocross machine that will debut in the AMA Supercross series and the MXGP World Championship.

Lupino will debut Ducati Desmo450 MX at the first round of the Italian championship in Mantua on March 16.