Cairoli – up to four Pro Motocross starts in the area

Antonio Cairoli plans to compete in up to four races in the 2026 Pro Motocross season.

The idea is on the table, but nothing's decided yet: Antonio Cairoli could compete in the USA again this summer. At the MXGP of Trentino, he himself confirmed that up to four appearances in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship are possible. However, nothing is set in stone.

And that actually fits the current situation quite well.

More than just a trip to the USA

The trip to the USA was not a short visit, a PR event, or a nostalgia trip. It was for work. Together with Factory Connection, tests were conducted, comparisons were made, and above all, an attempt was made to better understand the current package.

This broader perspective is particularly important for Ducati. The tracks in the USA are different, the riding style is often more aggressive, starts have a different significance, and rhythm sections are crucial. These are things that can only be simulated to a limited extent in traditional testing.

Progress, but no answers yet.

Internally, there's a consensus that the motorcycle has taken a step forward. More power, better tuning – especially in areas that carry more weight in the US format.

But this is precisely where it gets interesting: progress in testing is one thing. Confirmation in the race is something else entirely.

And that's precisely why the US option even arises in the first place.

Cairoli remains the fixed point

Regardless of whether he himself competes, Cairoli remains a key figure in the project. A lot is coming together at the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team, but not everything is running smoothly yet.

With Calvin Vlaanderen, Andrea Bonacorsi, and Jeremy Seewer, the structure is in place, but consistency is still lacking. Seewer, in particular, demonstrates how delicate the interplay between rider and motorcycle currently is. Cairoli is less the man for the headlines and more the one who helps determine the team's direction from behind the scenes.

Racing as the next step

Should there be a launch in the US, it won't be a comeback in the traditional sense. It's not about "showing he can do it again." Rather, it's about gathering data, testing processes, and seeing the whole package under real-world conditions.

Races often provide the most honest answers, especially when a project is still under development.

Decision? Still open.

Whether Cairoli will actually race in the USA currently depends on several factors – the timeline, the stage of development, and how things unfold in the coming weeks. The option is on the table. But that's all.

But one thing is already clear: if Ducati takes this step, it's not for show. It's because they're looking for answers that they can't get through training and MXGP alone.