DUCATI DESMO450 MX DEBUT: VIDEO SERIES

An Italian rider on an Italian dirt bike on the world stage – it’s a match made in heaven for Ducati! The recently released Part III of Ducati’s 2024 Desmo450 MX debut video series focuses on the return to MXGP of MX legend and nine-time world champ, Tony Cairoli, after a three-year hiatus from the World MX Championship – but this time aboard the all-new Ducati MX weapon.

Go inside Cairoli’s ‘return’ to MXGP with Ducati as he secures a solid seventh place in Saturday’s Qualifying Race, showcasing the Desmo450 MX’s potential. On Sunday, Cairoli struggled with starts, finishing 15^th in the first race, but fought back to ninth in Race 2 before a technical issue forced his retirement. Despite his challenges on Netherlands’ notoriously sandy Arnhem track, Cairoli praised the bike’s performance, particularly in tough track conditions, and expressed his satisfaction with the results.

Remember also that this was still at an early stage of the all-new Ducati MX bike’s development process (this Netherlands GP took place in late August, 2024 – a few months prior to Ducati claiming their maiden Italian MX Championship title with the Desmo450 MX in late October).

According to Cairoli, “We bring home an excellent test and data for the bike. Before the GP, we did three weeks of testing between Holland and Belgium, but the conditions of today’s track were very far from those found in the various tests. Our goal was to test the Desmo450 MX in extreme conditions, and I had very positive feelings. In the Qualifying Race, we got a very good seventh place, which is a fantastic result for such a young bike. Then on Sunday, I didn’t get a good start in both heats, but in Race 2 I was in the top 10 and so I’m satisfied. After three years away from the GPs, it was definitely not an easy race for me, especially on a difficult track like this,” the multiple champ-turned-tester-cum-ambassador went on to explain.