Ducati’s first motocross motorcycle, the 2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX has been previewed as the first instalment of the Ducati World Premiere.

And yes, it is called a 2026 model, although sales will begin in July in North America. However, Ducati has revealed some tantalising tech details.

Engine

• It is where the Desmo450 MX gets its name from (sorry for being too obvious).
• It is a 449.6 cc single-cylinder engine featuring Ducati’s synonymous Desmodromic valvetrain.
• Using the Desmo allows for higher lift values than traditional camshafts, resulting in a wider torque curve and higher engine RPMs.

• Bore and stroke figures are 96 mm and 62.1 mm, respectively.
• The vales are 40 mm titanium ones for intake valves and 33 mm sodium-filled steel exhaust valves.
• The counterbalancer shaft integrates the water pump to save weight.

• Likewise, the alternator, cylinder head, and covers are made of magnesium to save weight.
• The sum of all these measures allows the Desmo450 MX’s engine to produce 63.5 hp at 9,400 RPM and 53.5 Nm at 7,500 RPM, with 70 percent of the peak torque at 4,200 RPM.
• The engine redlines at 11,000 RPM, which Ducati says is a benchmark in the MX segment.

Frame

• What is the use of a powerful engine without a skeleton, eh?
• As such, the frame is twin-spar aluminium and purposefully designed to allow for straight intake and exhaust ducts.
• The frame is made up of only 11 cast, forged, and extruded pieces compared to almost twice that for Ducati’s competitors; again to save weight from welds.

• The front section of the frame which connects the steering column and all the way to the rear shock absorber mount is cast as a single piece, weighing just 9 kg. (That is lighter than a 50-litre electric oven.)
• Ducati claims that the Ducati Desmo450 MX weighs just 104.8 kg without fuel. (By comparison, the Yamaha Y16ZR has a kerb weight of 119 kg.)

Chassis

• The front forks are Show closed cartridge type, with 310 mm of travel, and are adjustable for compression and rebound.
• The rear Showa monoshock provides 301 mm of travel, and are adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound.

• Ducati emphasised that Alessandro Lupino won the MX1 Italian Championship on this stock suspension and setup.
• Brakes are of course from Brembo, with a two-piston floating caliper gripping a 260 mm Galfer disc up front, while a single-piston floating caliper grips a 240 mm Galfer disc at the back.

• Wheels are Takasago Excel (of course!).

Electronics

• Think the Ducati Desmo450 MX escapes the factory’s love for electronics? Think again!
• But fear not, because Ducati was smart when designing the bike’s rider aids.
• For example, the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) function does not keep cutting engine torque and power when it senses tyre slip or when the bike is in flight.

• There are four levels of DTC to fine tune the level of intervention, for the system to allow how much tyre slippage and engine torque reduction.
• There are two riding modes, namely Smooth and Dynamic.
• Smooth allows for a gentler and progressive power delivery, while Dynamic features a more linear and direct power delivery.

• Additionally, there is also Launch Control with 3 levels. Levels 1 and 2 are more aggressive, while level 3 is smoother. The system deactivates automatically when the rider rolls off the throttle or when the rider reaches 4th gear.

Pricing

The 2026 Ducati Desmo450 MX will begin selling in North America in July, with a price of US$11,495.