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Chassis

• FIRST-RATE CHASSIS: STABILITY, GRIP AND CONTROL WITH WHICH TO PUSH TO THE MAX: Every element of the Desmo450 MX chassis has been developed to offer precision, control, and responsiveness by harnessing a select combination of materials and technical partners.
• SHOWA SUSPENSION: Like all the key components, the suspension was a deliberate choice, developed in collaboration with Showa, a historic partner for the road bikes. The USD closed cartridge fork has a diameter of 49 mm. The shock is in black anodized aluminum with a 16 mm shaft and offers 129 mm of travel. It is mounted centrally on the cast swingarm with linkage. Link progression was determined during the 2024 season’s races. Total wheel travel measures 301 mm. A suspension system utilizing a spring as its elastic element instead of air was considered the best solution, responding to the needs of riders at all levels and simplifying adjustments for the rider.
• FORK WITH 310 MM OF TRAVEL: The fork features 310 mm of travel, an aluminum lug with a 33 mm offset, Kashima-coated outer tubes, and black anodized top caps. With a closed cartridge, it offers external adjustment for compression and rebound damping. It is mounted on high-performance, forged aluminum steering plates that have been machined to maximize the component’s stiffness-to-weight ratio while maintaining a more refined aesthetic.
• BREMBO AND GALFER BRAKING SYSTEM: In terms of calipers and master cylinders, the Desmo450 MX braking system is by Brembo, a historic Borgo Panigale partner whose experience has been fundamental in developing a bike in a world completely for Ducati. The discs, 260 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear are by Galfer and are selected for their lightness.
• EXCEL RIMS WITH ALPINA SPOKES: The Desmo450 MX is equipped with Takasago Excel rims with Alpina spokes mounted on cast aluminum hubs.
• PIRELLI SCORPION MX32 TIRES: The tires are Scorpion MX32 by Pirelli, an historic Ducati partner and key motocross player. The tires measure 80/100 – 21” at the front and 110/90 – 19” at the rear.

Design

• IN PURSUIT OF PERFORMANCE AND FUNCTIONALITY.: Centro Stile Ducati has designed an MX bike with clean, flowing, and taut surfaces, making the Desmo450 MX instantly identifiable as a Ducati. The design ensures the rider’s maximum freedom of movement and is entirely functional regarding seat movement, grip, responsiveness, and speed.
• DUCATI DNA ON CLEAR DISPLAY: A bike is immediately recognizable as a Ducati, thanks to a design that emphasizes its compactness and a livery shared with the MotoGP bike and other models developed by Ducati Corse. The Desmo450 MX is highly compact, designed to maximize the rider’s freedom of movement and vehicle control, while also considering maintenance at the workshop or trackside.
• SURFACES THAT ALLOW FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: Centro Stile Ducati worked hard on the external surfaces to minimize bulk between the rider’s legs and ensure maximum freedom of movement.
• FRONT AND REAR MUDGUARD LINES: The front mudguard has lines inspired by the Hypermotard, while the clean, lightweight rear recalls the tail section of Ducati sports bikes.
• SIDE PANELS AND NUMBER PLATES: The side panels and number plates, particularly, are designed to not interfere with rider movement in different riding situations; in fact, they facilitate it. The front panels are designed to facilitate leg movement inside the turn, while the side number plates are modified in volume, corresponding with the exhaust and the same on both right and left, serving as a reference for the rider when they move backward.
• TEXTURES TO MAXIMIZE GRIP: The side panels, frame protectors and the lower section of the number plates are textured to heighten grip and hold the rider’s inner thigh and boots in both acceleration and vertically, when jumping.

Electronic Riding Aid Systems

• LAUNCH CONTROL: This system limits the maximum engine speed at the start, restricting power to the rear wheel and allowing the rider to concentrate only on clutch management.
• QUICK SHIFT ONLY UP: A system that allows you to shift gears when climbing, without using the clutch or closing the throttle.
• DUCATI TRACTION CONTROL (DTC): System that detects rear wheel slippage and automatically cuts power to limit or zero it, depending on the settings chosen by the user.
• ENGINE BRAKE CONTROL (EBC): System that allows you to control the level of engine braking when the throttle is released and choose whether to have more or less braking.

Electronics

• DUCATI ELECTRONICS AT THE SERVICE OF PERFORMANCE.: The Desmo450 MX brings Ducati electronics excellence to motocross. A technological package that, for the first time in MX, introduces adjustable Traction Control that can effectively measure rear wheel slip on the ground, intervening directly based on the loss of grip.
• RIDING MODE: All the electronic controls are preconfigured in two Riding Modes, available as standard on the Desmo450 MX. By adding the Wi-Fi connectivity module, the Desmo450 MX can be connected to a smartphone with the X-Link app. With this app, the user can configure the Riding Modes as they wish, varying the control intervention levels. It is also possible to save the customized Riding Modes in the app and upload them to the control unit depending on the conditions of use. The Riding Modes are managed via the switch unit on the left side of the handlebar, allowing the user to change the selected Riding Mode, activate or deactivate Traction Control and the Quickshifter, and enable Launch Control. The five LEDs on the panel indicate the status of the electronic controls and Wi-Fi activity.
• DUCATI TRACTION CONTROL: Traction control aboard the Desmo450 MX is a system that can control the actual degree of slip, making a tangible contribution in terms of rider safety and performance at every level. In a series of comparison tests, the DTC system reduces lap times between 0.3 and 1.6 seconds depending on the rider’s level, with an average improvement of about one second. Contextually, the same test carried out on bikes with a conventional system identified improvements of between 0 and 0.5 seconds, if not quicker lap times. The DTC on the Desmo450 MX can be adjusted according to four levels, with logic linked to system intervention. The lowest levels indicate freer, less intrusive control, while the higher levels are designed to increase vehicle stability. The system can, of course, be deactivated.
• THROTTLE RESPONSE: The throttle response of the Desmo450 engine can be adjusted with two different throttle response maps. With the Smooth setting, the engine response is smoother and more progressive than with the Dynamic setting, which promises more direct delivery.
• LAUNCH CONTROL: The Launch Control system, which can be set according to three intervention levels, acts on the rev limiter to help the rider best exploit the engine power at the start. Levels 1 and 2 indicate less invasive intervention, while level 3 ensures safer and more stable behavior out of the gate. The system automatically deactivates upon reaching fourth gear or when the throttle is closed.
• ENGINE BRAKE CONTROL: The engine brake control is designed to help riders optimize vehicle stability during extreme corner entry, balancing the forces acting on the rear wheel when there is intensive torque from engine deceleration. The EB monitors the throttle valve position, selected gear, and crankshaft deceleration during aggressive braking, and adjusts ignition and ignition advance to balance the torque forces applied to the tire. Engine brake control can be set to two levels.
• HANDLEBAR SWITCH UNIT: The handlebar switch unit allows the rider to: Select one of the two Riding Modes uploaded to the control unit, Activate Launch Control, Activate and deactivate DTC and DQS. The app for Ducatisti who prefer the road less traveled. The ideal support for your off-road adventures. (Available from July)

Engine

• DESMO450 - THE REVOLUTION STARTS HERE.: The Desmo450 MX was built around its beating heart: the 63.5 hp Desmo450 engine, the first four-stroke single-cylinder with desmodromic timing in motocross history. Designed before anything else, it was the engine that shaped the bike itself, redefining the concept.
• THE DESMO ADVANTAGE - HIGHER RPM, HIGHER ACCELERATION: The Desmo450 MX engine is a 449.6 cc four-stroke single-cylinder with desmodromic system, chain-driven four-valve DOHC, and magnesium alternator, head and clutch covers. Thanks to desmodromic timing, the Desmo450 engine can achieve 11,900 rpm[MR1] , ensuring greater acceleration and more efficient drive out of the gate. Without the spring of traditional timing systems, the desmodromic system allows for greater control and reduces friction loss, maximizing race performance. More revs, more power, and more chance to grab the holeshot. In fact, the Desmo450 MX snatched both holeshots on its debut in the 2025 MXGP championship.
• A WIDE TORQUE CURVE TO BE EXPLOITED AT ALL ENGINE SPEEDS: The Desmo450 offers a wide, well-distributed torque curve to ensure drive is always available, even at low rpm. This means greater traction out of the turns and less fatigue for the rider. Desmodromic timing reduces mechanical losses and allows for more extreme cam profiles to optimize combustion. The desmodromic system also affords the management of greater valve acceleration, allowing for higher engine speeds than traditional systems and thus allowing for the definition of more extreme cam profiles with the same valve diameter for a torque curve that is wider and more sustained.
• THE POWER OF THE DESMO450 SINGLE-CYLINDER: The Desmo450 engine delivers maximum power of 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm [MR1] and maximum torque of 39.5 lb-ft (53.5 Nm) at 7,500 rpm. The limiter is set at 11,900 rpm, setting a reference for the category. To ensure consistent performance even in the most extreme conditions, the engine is equipped with rhomboid radiators with a 6.5% larger surface with respect to conventional designs. This ensures more efficient cooling, improving performance reliability and consistency without compromising the rider’s freedom of movement.
• DESMODROMIC TIMING - EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY: The bore and stroke measurements are, respectively, 96 x 62.1 mm, selected to achieve the ideal valve diameter. The intake valves are in titanium and have a diameter of 40 mm, while the 33 mm exhaust valves are in hollow-stemmed steel and filled with sodium to improve heat exchange. The chain tensioner is hydraulic to offer more precise and consistent action over time with respect to a conventional mechanical system.
• FOUR-VALVE DOHC: The Desmo450 uses a DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshaft) configuration with four valves for optimum airflow and combustion management. This guarantees an immediate throttle response and more efficient combustion, improving power delivery at all engine speeds. Power is managed by a Mikuni 44 mm throttle body, designed for a precise, direct response, while the steel and aluminum exhaust system with resonator guarantees maximum performance while conforming with 2025 FIM/FMI international racing regulations (109dB + tolerance of 2 dB).
• SERVICE INTERVALS: The reliability tests use the official Ducati riders as a reference, and all the service intervals are based on their usage to guarantee maximum reliability for both amateurs and professional riders. Despite this, the service intervals set a benchmark for the category. Piston replacement and the valve clearance check are set at 45 hours, while a full engine service is to be carried out at 90 hours. To make maintenance operations quicker and easier, the covers (alternator, clutch, head) do not use tricomponent putty as a seal but rather a gasket, composed of metal for the head and in rubber for the alternator and clutch.
• NOISE EMISSIONS: Complete with resonator and made from a blend of steel and aluminum, the exhaust respects the 2025 FIM/FMI regulation dictating that exhaust noise cannot exceed 109 dB with a tolerance of 2 dB.

Ergonomics

• LESS THAN 19 LB (9 KG)AND JUST 11 ELEMENTS, FOR AN ULTRA-COMPACT, RESISTANT FRAME.: The Desmo450 MX vehicle was designed to ensure minimum bulk and maximum resistance. Developed directly on the racetrack, its structure affords agility, control, and extreme durability. The aluminum perimeter frame was designed with the minimum number of weld joints to eliminate weak points and heighten structural stability.
• ROBUST AND LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM FRAME: The Desmo450 MX is equipped with an aluminum perimeter frame, which allows for an engine intake duct that is as straight as possible along with the right incline to optimize air intake efficiency and, hence, performance. This layout, in turn, dictated the use of aluminum for the frame, which is designed and built using innovative techniques to optimize stiffness, weight, and strength. In developing a frame with limited elements, a “welding-less” philosophy was adopted, as reducing the number of weld joints as far as possible consequently limits the number of weak points for heightened reliability.
• CONTAINED WEIGHT FOR ULTIMATE CONTROL: The aluminum perimeter frame is lighter with respect to steel tube solutions. In addition, the use of cast components allows the amount of material needed at every point to be carefully calibrated to ensure the right stiffness and strength without adding any unnecessary weight. This has resulted in an extremely light frame, weighing less than 19 lbs. (9 kg), which significantly contributes to achieving an overall bike weight of just 231 lbs. (104.8 kg).
• ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBAR: The Desmo450 MX handlebar is designed to adapt to any riding style, with four positions that allow the rider to find their ideal setup. The handlebar stems are asymmetric so that the handlebar can be assembled in two positions based on the mounting direction. In addition, the steering plates feature a double hole, to allow for two additional positions, for a total of four.

Key Characteristic

• 100% DUCATI RACING DNA: The know-how gained in MotoGP and World Superbike, combined with comprehensive research work and the support of sector professionals, has resulted in the development of a motocross bike that embodies Ducati racing DNA. This race-ready production 450 is designed to provide both amateurs and pros with maximum performance and reliability.
• CONNECTIVITY: Thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity unit, which is available as an accessory, the user can connect to the bike and, with the dedicated X-Link app, customize the Riding Modes, keep track of the vehicle’s service history, and monitor its status.
• RIDING MODE: The Desmo450 MX fully utilizes Ducati’s experience in developing electronic control and riding assistance systems. In addition to the two standard Riding Modes, the user can create completely customized Riding Modes via the dedicated Ducati X-Link app, configuring the levels of throttle response, Ducati Traction Control, Engine Brake Control, and launch control.
• ERGONOMICS FOR MAXIMUM CONTROL: An extremely compact bike, designed according to Ducati style canons to maximize the rider’s freedom of movement and bike control. The contact surfaces beneath the seat are designed to provide the rider with references and facilitate their movements, with the textures of the frame’s side covers heightening grip. The superstructures and frame are specifically designed to facilitate trackside maintenance.
• ALUMINUM FRAME AND SUBFRAME COMPRISING JUST 11 ELEMENTS: To achieve the straightest possible intake duct to guarantee the best engine performance, Ducati has opted for an aluminum perimeter frame with the fewest possible weld joints, achieving the best combination of lightness, reliability, and stiffness calibration. The Desmo450 MX frame is composed of just 11 elements, roughly half the number used in the frames of other motocross bikes on the market.
• ADVANCED ELECTRONICS WITH DUCATI TRACTION CONTROL: Traction control on the Desmo450 MX is a latest-generation system that estimates actual rear wheel slip by combining camshaft rotation speed with inertial measurement of the vehicle dynamics, thus ensuring intervention efficiency, promptness and linearity.
• DESMO450 SINGLE-CYLINDER EXCEEDING 63 HP: The Desmo450 MX design started with the engine, which flaunts desmodromic timing. The Desmo450 engine delivers maximum power of 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm and maximum torque of 39.5 lb-ft (53.5 Nm) at 9,400 rpm. The limiter is set at 11,900 rpm, a benchmark for the category. The engine's ability to run at very high rpm means less gear shifting. In addition, the desmodromic system really comes into its own out of the gate, as the rider goes for the holeshot, pushing to be first out of turn one. The torque curve is very favorable at low revs, improving the drive out of the turns and making the ride less challenging and less tiring.
• SHOWA SUSPENSION: The suspension and brakes on the Desmo450 MX were a deliberate choice. Ducati relies on the extensive racing experience of Showa, its longtime partner for road bikes. Lupino's debut win at Mantua highlighted the high quality of Showa’s standard materials. The 49 mm USD fork provides 310 mm of travel, while the shock, featuring a 16 mm shaft and 129 mm of travel, is mounted on the cast swingarm. The total wheel travel is 301 mm.
• BREMBO/GALFER BRAKING SYSTEM: The calipers and master cylinders are produced by Brembo, an historic Ducati partner selected to develop cutting-edge braking systems for motocross, just as it does for the road bikes. The discs are supplied by Galfer, single discs of 260 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear.

Vehicle & Design

• CLEAN AND FUNCTIONAL FORMS.: A necessarily simple bike, where every detail is conceived and designed solely to provide performance and functionality. It features a lightweight, durable frame and a chassis crafted for maximum control. The Desmo450 MX is built to offer ultimate freedom of movement.