BamBam on the Move

Justin Barcia and Ducati part ways after just one season

Justin Barcia's time at Ducati ends after just one year. What began as an important part of the new US factory project was brought to an early halt by the serious crash at the Supercross season opener. Now Barcia and Troy Lee Design's Red Bull Ducati are parting ways – and a rather interesting path leads back to Suzuki for 2027.

Barcia was among the riders with whom Ducati embarked on its first full season in American Supercross and Pro Motocross in 2026. Experience, speed, and a rider who had spent enough years on a 450cc bike to provide clear feedback during the development of a new motorcycle – on paper, it looked like a perfect fit.

It was difficult to assess how much of a sporting success that might have been. The story changed at the season opener in Anaheim.

Barcia was involved in a violent mid-air collision at Anaheim 1 and subsequently missed most of the Supercross season. He only returned for the final two rounds. His speed was immediately back in Denver, but jumping back into the middle of an ongoing 450SX season after such a long break is a rather thankless task. 

Barcia had to catch up – Ducati too.

Team manager Josh Wisenor's assessment is interesting in this context, as he doesn't attribute the difficult year solely to Barcia's injury.

“After Anaheim, Justin had to catch up physically, while at the same time we were trying to catch up on the bike. From that point on, it was an uphill battle for the rest of the season.”

Wisenor thus describes quite openly what made the first year together difficult. While Barcia was unable to race for weeks, the Desmo450 MX was still in the middle of its development in the USA. Rider and motorcycle therefore had to make up ground simultaneously. 

Especially for a completely new program, this is not an ideal combination. Testing during the week is one thing. Developing a motorcycle under racing conditions against the established 450cc bikes is quite another.

Although Ducati had a second experienced rider in the team in Dylan Ferrandis, Barcia was missing as an additional reference for large parts of the Supercross season.

When he returned, the competition was already 15 laps ahead.

In motocross, the season became somewhat more normal.

With the start of the Pro Motocross season, Barcia received more race time. He worked his way back and finished the 450MX championship within the top 10. His best overall result was fifth place in Spring Creek. 

These aren't the results Barcia or Ducati probably wanted to make headlines with before the season. But they only tell part of the story.

Ducati was in the first year of a completely new US program, while Barcia had to regain its racing stamina after a long injury break. Added to this was the development work on the motorcycle.

Wisenor also recalls Anaheim 1. Before the accident, the team stated they had completed a good testing program and believed they were heading in the right direction with the bike. Barcia's performance in the heat race demonstrated what was possible at that time. 

Whether corresponding results would have resulted from this later in the season cannot be answered after the crash.

The last Ducati race was already in Los Angeles.

It is now certain that there will be no second season together.

Barcia confirmed that the SMX race in Los Angeles was his last start for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati. However, the farewell wasn't particularly happy. He twisted his ankle in the first moto and had to abandon another test ride later in the week.

“Unfortunately, I have to say that last weekend in Los Angeles was my last race for the TLD Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team. I twisted my ankle in the first moto. I tried to ride this week, but it's just not possible.”

He is annoyed that his time with Ducati is ending in this way.

“It’s a shame it’s ending like this, but overall it’s been a damn intense journey. I want to thank the whole team who have stood behind me this year on this brand new bike. Everyone has worked hard and I think we’ve done a pretty good job in the end.” 

There is no question of scorched earth in this separation.

Wisenor explicitly emphasizes the contribution Barcia and his family made to the atmosphere within the team. His personality, humor, and way of interacting with the crew made him an important part of Ducati's first year. The team expressly wishes him success in his future endeavors. 

Is Barcia's path leading back to Suzuki?

This makes the question of 2027 interesting. Because Barcia has been linked with the... Pipes Motorsports Group He has been linked to the club. Should a deal actually materialize, the 34-year-old could be back on a Suzuki RM-Z450 next season.

This connection isn't entirely unfounded. Reports of a possible move have been circulating for some time, and Barcia is said to have tested the Suzuki over the summer. However, a contract has not yet been confirmed.

Suzuki wouldn't be a new brand for Barcia. He already rode for JGR Suzuki in 2017. Nearly ten years later, a return could be on the cards.

That would certainly be an interesting combination. Barcia brings a wealth of experience from various factory programs and has just completed a season in which developing a new motorcycle was a key part of his work. At Pipes Motorsports, on the other hand, he would be working with the RM-Z450, a bike whose technical basis has been known for considerably longer.

Whether this will actually become his next chapter remains to be seen. However, the connection to Pipes Motorsports persists, and with his now-confirmed departure from Ducati, the path is at least clear.

Ducati is simultaneously beginning the search for a new rider pairing. Dylan Ferrandis ended his active career after the SMX final, and Barcia is also leaving the team. This means the US project is facing a major personnel overhaul after just its first season.

Barcia's Ducati chapter has come to an end after a difficult year. It is not yet confirmed that his next motorcycle could be yellow again – but it would no longer be surprising.