Ducati’s highly anticipated entry into American motocross made a thrilling debut over the Fourth of July weekend at the legendary RedBud MX track. Nestled near the shores of Lake Michigan, RedBud hosted the U.S. premiere of the Ducati Desmo450 MX, piloted by none other than nine-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli. The entry, supported by Factory Connection, marked a major milestone in Borgo Panigale’s bold leap into the dirt.
Fresh off his appearance as Grand Marshal at Southwick and armed with several productive testing sessions, Cairoli rolled into RedBud ready to put the Desmo450 MX to the test in Round 6 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Despite scorching Midwest heat and only two-timed practice sessions to adapt to the AMA’s fast-paced format, the Sicilian legend wasted no time. Cairoli laid down the 10th fastest time out of 80 riders—an impressive feat that spoke volumes about both his skill and the potential of Ducati’s prototype.
In the opening moto, Cairoli fired off the gate and rounded the first corner in fifth, immediately mixing it up with the frontrunners. A minor hiccup with a stuck starting device cost him a few positions, dropping him to 12th. But the veteran quickly regrouped, found his rhythm, and began carving his way back through the pack—eventually finishing ninth after a gritty battle to the line.
Moto two saw Cairoli launch even harder, charging into fourth and pushing the pace for a spot on the podium. For four intense laps, he was in the thick of the fight before an unexpected electrical issue forced an early retirement, cutting short what had been a stellar ride.
Though the second moto ended prematurely, the weekend was a clear success: Ducati’s maiden AMA Pro Motocross outing saw the Desmo450 MX holding its own against America’s best on one of the sport’s most demanding tracks.
Development of Ducati’s first-ever motocross machine continues, with the team now turning its attention to the next round at Spring Creek in Millville, Minnesota.
Antonio Cairoli:
“Racing at RedBud was an incredible experience. In the first moto, I got a great start, but the hook didn’t release properly, and I lost some ground early. I fought back to ninth, which I was happy with given the conditions. In the second race, I had an even better start and was pushing for third when we ran into a small technical issue. Of course, I would have loved to finish, but overall, it’s been a positive day. We’re here to develop the bike, and this is all part of the process. I’m excited to keep progressing and see what we can do next weekend in Millville.”