Ducati’s Dazzling New Off-Road Bike Gains an Edge with a Coveted Pro-Level Feature

Premium components, unique capabilities and jaw-dropping looks add up to a hard-charging motocross masterpiece.

Close-up of a Ducati motorcycle engine with a black skid plate and part of the footpeg and chain visible.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published January 13, 2026

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Updated January 14, 2026

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A couple of years ago, Ducati announced itself as serious about off-road racing, courtesy of Alessandro Lupino winning the Italian MX1 Motocross Championship on the back of a Desmo450 MX.

This feat is all the more notable considering it was the bike’s first season of racing — and the win on Sunday, sell on Monday vibes carried over when it rolled out to dealerships in early 2025.

Red and black Ducati 450 Desmo MX dirt bike with knobby tires on a metal stand on dirt. — The Desmo450MX Factory’s arresting looks instantly announce its intention to dominate dirt.

Now the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer is upping the ante with the instantly race-ready Desmo450MX Factory, which boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor.

Of course, like everything Ducati, it looks damn good doing it too.

Enjoy the silencer

The most notable difference with the new bike is the introduction of a full titanium Akrapovič exhaust system packing its own engine mapping.

The potent pipe sheds 3.7 pounds while smoothing out the bike’s torque curve between 4,000 and 7,500 rpm.

Close-up of a red Ducati Corse dirt bike showing the Akrapovič exhaust, rear tire, and suspension. — Tucked up next to the seat, the Akrapovič exhaust system remaps the engine to make it punchier and more powerful.

The bike not only powers out of corners and packs more punch in every gear but also the engine jumps to 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm with 39.5 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm.

Billet triple clamps drop another half pound, helping the overall weight savings hit 1.8 pounds, even with extra parts — skid plate, front brake disc guard, and an RK MXU O-ring chain — bolted on. The overall wet weight lands at a pretty feathery 229 pounds.

Another notable upgrade is the suspension, which still boasts 12.2 inches of front travel and 11.8 inches of rear travel.

Front wheel and suspension fork of a red and black dirt bike with Showa branding on the gold fork tube. — Special treatments help the already lively Showa forks raise their performance to another level.

However, the Showa forks and shock body get a Dark Kashima coating and the internals get titanium oxide finishing, treatments that reduce friction, boost small-bump sensitivity and level out the damping.

The Factory edition also boasts as standard a holeshot device — the aforementioned pro-level feature — which compresses the front fork when starting, boosting the bike’s stability and pick-up out of the starting gate.

If it ain’t broke…

These performance improvements are perhaps all the more notable considering the powerplant hasn’t changed.

The funky Desmodromic 449.6cc single simply functions at a higher level thanks to the revamped mapping.

Close-up of a Ducati motorcycle engine with metallic components and red bodywork. — This unique engine is out to prove just how fast and furious a 450cc unit can be.

The chassis also remains unchanged: a 19.7-pound aluminum twin-spar that’s all business and optimized for fuss-free maintenance.

The bike’s electronic highlights include Ducati Traction Control, which actually measures rear wheel slip and switches off mid-air for smooth jumps, launch control, engine brake control, a quickshifter and two riding modes.

Motocross rider in red gear kicking up dirt while turning on a red dirt bike on a track. — If you’re not sending dirt flying at every turn, you’re doing it wrong.

The brakes are Brembo-powered, while the tires are Pirelli Scorpion MX32 Mid-Softs, knobby numbers that truly come alive in the dirt.

I’d be remiss not to mention this bike looks sick as hell. True to the rest of the bike, the black, red and white Ducati Corse race livery implores you to send it till the sun sets.

Availability and pricing

The Ducati Desmo450 MX Factory is available now starting at $13,995.

Red and black Ducati 450 Desmo MX dirt bike with knobby tires and gold front forks on a white background.

Ducati Desmo450 MX Factory

Starts at $13,995

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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