DUCATI REVEALS DESMO450 MX PRICING

Just like their road and adventure bike models, Ducati’s first modern-era motocross machine boasts premium componentry from top to tail – not to mention the fact it’s the only MX bike on the market to use desmodromic valves. And that’s exactly why the Italian brand’s all-new Desmo450 MX was always expected to come with a premium price tag.

Why wouldn’t Ducati ask a little more for this landmark new model? Aside from the fact that everyone already expected a premium-product price tag, Ducati must realise that a bunch of passionate, well-heeled Ducatisti will happily snap one up for whatever it costs – simply in recognition of this bike’s significance in the blood-red brand’s long, proud lineage. After all, the 2025 Desmo450 MX is the very first of what Ducati says will be “an entire family of off-road models”.

Plus, it’s not as if there’s a risk this bike is a lemon covered in hot red sauce. The Desmo450 MX’s Italian MX Championship win last year (and the bike’s impressive performance at the opening rounds of the 2025 MXGP World Championship) is a pretty solid indication that the production machine is likely to be immediate competitive against the line-up of Japanese and European MXers it will now call rivals.

But enough of the price preamble; what’s it actually cost? And when will we see this all-new Ducati in Aussie and Kiwi dealerships? Well, according to Ducati Australia, the Ducati Desmo450 MX will be available at selected dealers across Australia and New Zealand from September, starting at $16,300 (Australia) and $17,793 (New Zealand).

To be honest, we thought the Ducati would be pricier than that. In round numbers, Ducati’s Desmo450 MX’s $16,300 RRP (incl GST) in Oz is between $700 and $2400 (or an average of $1440) more expensive than the rest of the 2025-model 450cc MXers (see the pricing table below for details).

“True to the concept of developing through racing the solutions that later will grace its production motorcycles, available to all enthusiasts, Ducati is ready to bring to the dealers the new Desmo450 MX,” explained Ducati Australia’s PR.

“This is just the final step of the first chapter of the Ducati history in Motocross. After a successful season in the Italian Prestige MX1 Championship – that saw the debut victory of Alessandro Lupino in Mantua, all the way to the final title clinch in Pietramurata – Ducati is in fact officially entering the Motocross World Championship for the first time this year.

This MXGP 2025 operation will be managed by the new Aruba.it Ducati Factory MX Team, which will rely on experienced riders such as Jeremy Seewer and Mattia Guadagnini. The Desmo 450 MX is an innovative motorcycle and the only one in its class equipped with the desmodromic valve control system, ensuring optimal performance and precision. This aligns with Ducati’s philosophy of transferring racing technology into production models, and the new off-road project is no exception,” Duc’s PR went on to say.

& DUCATI’S DESMO250 MX?

As we revealed just last week, the all-new Ducati Desmo250 MX made its race debut in the sands Ottobiano, Italy, where eight-time Italian MX Champion, Alessandro Lupino, secured third place at the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship.

“The Ducati Corse R&D Factory MX Team will continue pursuing its development program for the next step of the Ducati MX Project, focusing on the new Desmo250 MX prototype that will take part in the Italian MX2 Championship,” Ducati confirmed. “Alessandro Lupino, the factory rider, will work alongside the MX legend, Antonio Cairoli, in order to create the best possible base for the future production version of the 250MX.”