Ducati Enters Motocross with the Desmo450 MX

Ducati Enters Motocross with the Desmo450 MX

Ducati has officially flung its red cape into the mud. The Borgo Panigale brand, known for fast road bikes and racing pedigree, has now stepped into motocross territory with the Desmo450 MX—its first-ever production dirt bike.

Developed with input from motocross legends Tony Cairoli and Alessandro Lupino, the Desmo450 MX is built to shake things up. And not just with branding. It’s the only motocross bike in its segment that runs a Desmodromic valve system, similar to what Ducati uses in MotoGP and WSBK. So yes, it revs high, runs clean, and loves being wrung out.

Desmo450 MX powertrain

Under the red bodywork sits a 449.6cc single-cylinder engine that pumps out 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm and 53.5 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. But what sets it apart is how it delivers that power. Ducati says 70% of peak torque comes in as early as 4,200 rpm, making the bike easier to ride, especially on tight corners and rough terrain.

The aluminium perimeter frame weighs just 8.96 kg, using only 11 parts—roughly half of what competitors typically need. Result? A lean, rigid, and light setup. With a ready-to-ride weight (minus fuel) of just 104.8 kg, this is a proper weapon for the track.

Supension and other features

Suspension duties are handled by fully adjustable Showa kit—49 mm USD forks with Kashima coating and a matching rear shock. Brembo, Ducati’s long-time braking buddy, provides the stopping power, paired with Galfer discs.

But here’s where Ducati plays its real trump card—electronics. The Desmo450 MX gets a first-of-its-kind traction control system in motocross. It’s smart enough to back off mid-jump or unleash full fury when the clutch gets a light tap. Also onboard: launch control, engine brake control, quickshifter, and app-configurable riding modes via Ducati’s X-Link app.

Desmo450 MX competition

Competitors? Think KTM 450 SX-F, Honda CRF450R, Kawasaki KX450, and Yamaha YZ450F. They’ve ruled the MX world for years. But none of them come close to Ducati’s unique electronic edge or Desmodromic setup.

Service intervals are sensible too: piston and valve checks every 45 hours, full rebuild at 90. That’s benchmark stuff.

The Desmo450 MX will hit European showrooms by June, with other markets to follow. Accessories? You can pretty much spec your bike like the factory MXGP machines—except for those elusive Showa factory forks.

Final Thoughts

Ducati in motocross? Never thought we’d see the day. Yet, here we are—desmo valves kicking up dirt and an Italian accent screaming over berms. It’s bold, a bit bonkers, and very Ducati. Whether it’ll conquer the dirt world remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: it’s not just another red bike. It’s a red revolution—on knobbies.

MXGP Sardinia...Febvre Wins

Kawasaki’s Romain Febvre went 4-1 to take the Grand Prix of sardinia. It was his firt MXGP win in two years and his 22nd GP win ever won his 22nd Grand Prix to join the likes of Dave Thorpe, Alex Puzar, Sten Lundin and Rolf Tibblin in the all-time list of GP winners. The Frenchman went 4-1 for the win and it was his first GP win in nearly two years. Second overall was Glenn Coldenhoff with 2-3 and third Tim Gajser with 5-2

Current 250 World Champion Kay De Wolf went 1-1 to win the 250 Grand Prix of Sardinia. It was his 10th 250 Grand Prix victory. He was chased home in the first moto by Triumph’s Camden McLellan, who went 2-3 for second overall in front of Andrea Adamo’s 4-2.

Foxborough...A Little Muddy

Webb prevails!

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts was a quagmire. It rained all day and never let up during the night program. The AMA was forced to shorten the 250 and 450 main events.

In the 450 class Aaron Plessinger got into the lead on the first lap and used his GNCC experience to stay on two wheels, something that no one else managed to do all night. He became the 7th different 450 winner of the Supercross season. In the best 450 ride of his life, in thr worst possible condition, Shane McElrath, not only won his 450 heat race on his Quad Lock Honda, but finished second overall in thre 450 Main. to second overall.

The actual races were a mess. The track was super muddy and super rutty. So many riders got stuck on the face of jumps that they blocked the track for the riders behind them, but by night’s end, Cooper Webb, who fell twice, managed to get third place to extend his 450 points lead back out to 15 points over Chase Sexton, who Cooper passed on the last lap.

Meanwhile, the 250 East class started with R.J. Hampshire throwing it away before the pack even got to the first turn. R.J. slid underneath the bike of the rider next to him and caused a massive pile-up. Honda’s Chance Hymas took the lead when privateer Dayton Briggs fell while leading the first lap. Hymas took over from there to win his first-ever AMA 250 Supercross event and become the 6th different winner in the first six 250 East races.

The 250 podium featured one of the greatest privateer paydays in recent history. Behind Team Honda’s Chance Hymas came second place Cullin Park, third place Gage Linville, fourth place Justin Rodbill, sixth place Lance Kobush, seventh place Jack Chambers, eighth place Mark Fineis, ninth place was Pro Circuit’s Seth Hammaker and tenth place Preston Taylor.

The 250 East saw a shake-up in the points standing as Seth Hammaker jumped from third in the 250 East standings into a first place tie with Tom Vialle at 99 points each. R.J Hampshire is 2 points back in third and Chance Hymas is 8-point back.

The Kings Shows How You Do It!

Deegan Arrested for Street Racing and Stunt Driving

Motocross Star Haiden Deegan, 19, Shares His Mugshot on Instagram After Being Arrested for Street Racing and Stunt Driving 

The teen also revealed that he was released from police custody after paying a $1,000 bond

Haiden Deegan/Instagram Haiden Deegan

Motocross star Haiden Deegan was arrested for street racing and stunt driving in Florida.

The 19-year-old shared a photo of his Walton County booking record and mugshot on his Instagram Stories on Saturday, March 22.

The virtual document shows that Haiden was charged with violating a “street racing/stunt driving law” on the evening of Friday, March 21, at approximately 10 p.m. local time.

He made his professional debut at Ironman in August 2022, and he is currently racing for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, per his bio page on Racer X.

Some of his racing awards include 2023 AMA 250SX Rookie of the Year and three career SuperMotocross World Championship 250SMX Wins, according to the site.

Sexton Returns to the Top ...Wins Birmingham

Chase Sexton grabbed the third holeshot followed by Cooper Webb and Aaron Plessinger. Ken Roczen would make a quick pass and put himself into third. Chase Sexton was very explosive in the opening laps and began putting a distance between himself and Cooper Webb. However, Chase Sexton would end up making a mistake which allowed Webb to go by. This would not affect the overall for Sexton so he just needed to be smart. Cooper Webb would end up taking the win but fourth overall on the night. As for Sexton, he was able to take the overall win on the night. 

Aaron Plessinger would grab the holeshot and would start to pull a small gap on the odds but Chase Sexton ended up making the pass into the lead. Malcolm Stewart was riding very well as he started picking off riders, even catching Plessinger and making the move. He would then set his focus on Sexton out front but would run out of time and Sexton would grab another win.

Max Anstie Breaks Fibula!

This afternoon, we saw a tough blow to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Division Championship. Max Anstie, the winner of the Tampa SX opening round of the championship, suffered a crash in qualifying in the first 250SX group A session of the day at the fifth round Birmingham Supercross in Alabama.

Anstie came up short on a quad in the middle of a rhythm section and then was ejected off his bike going over the following jump. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider came down on both feet and immediately began favoring his left ankle/lower leg.

The session was red flagged in order for the Alpinestars medical crew to tend to Anstie. He was eventually helped off the track, although he did not put any pressure on his left leg, while he held his left ankle/boot in the air. Anstie got onto the back of the medical cart, and he sitting up as he was taken to the mobile medical unit for evaluation. Watch Anstie’s crash below.

Anstie has finished 1-2-6-7 and was second in the championship entering the day, just one point behind KTM's Tom Vialle.

At this time, there is no update on his evaluation. We will provide more information when possible.

[Update: 2:45 p.m. Eastern]

Race Day Live's Steven “Lurch” Scott just reported Anstie has suffered a broken fibula. Anstie's supercross season is over.

In March 2024, Anstie entered the Birmingham SX round with the 250SX East points lead, but suffered a mechanical DNF and 21st place finish, giving up the points lead to Tom Vialle. Today, in the same stadium, he suffers a championship-ending crash.

Works Connection Tours the Pits

SX Track Build

Update on Lawrence Brothers, Lucas Mirtl Case [Update: Response from Wasserman Agency]

There have been some developments in the ongoing dispute between the Lawrence brothers, Hunter and Jett, and their former agent Lucas Mirtl. You may recall that the Lawrences, who both ride for the Honda HRC Progressive team, summarily fired Mirtl as their agent in January, claiming “we became aware of and in possession of evidence of misuse and misappropriation of our personal funds by our agent Lucas Mirtl for his benefit…”

Here's that story.

Mirtl was also dismissed from the Wasserman Media Group (WMG). He then went on the PulpMX Show on January 27 and told Steve Matthes that he denied the allegations unequivocally. You can read more from Mirtl's side and his Pulp interview here. 

Three days later the Lawrence brothers filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Florida, claiming that Mirtl had spent significant amounts of money, estimated to exceed $600,000. 

Fast forward to March 14. The Lawrence brothers voluntarily withdrew their complaint in that same U.S. District Court in Florida, without prejudice.

According to a social media post by WMG’s Jacob Hayes this morning, the court case was only dismissed in Federal Court due to both parties—the Lawrences and Mirtl—being non-U.S. citizens. Also complicating the matter is the fact that the plaintiffs and the defendant live in different states, Florida and Texas, respectively. However, that was not the end of the dispute because the Lawrences had already filed their lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial District Circuit in Pasco County, Florida, back on March 3. That means the case is now a Florida state case instead of a U.S. Federal case. So this situation is still ongoing.

On March 7, the Pasco County Clerk posted a summons to be issued to Mirtl on March 12 notifying him of the new lawsuit and giving him 20 days to respond in writing, once the summons is served. According to that same social post by Hayes, Mirtl has been officially served papers to appear in Florida state court.

Mirtl continues to be defiant, posting on his own social today an edit using words like "pure fiction." He has also remained an agent for several riders, including Tom Vialle, Jo Shimoda, and Lucas and Sacha Coenen.

[Update March 21, 2025] Wasserman Media Group has released the following statement via social media: