Ducati Makes Historic Entry into Motocross with Antonio Cairoli on Board
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Ducati has officially announced their entry into the motocross world, securing the signature of renowned rider Antonio Cairoli. This momentous move marks the manufacturer’s first major step in off-road racing, with intentions to extend their presence in this thrilling sport, as outlined in a detailed press release.
Key Takeaways:
Ducati’s Big Move: For over two years, Ducati has been quietly developing their motocross project, and this announcement confirms their serious intentions to be a part of the off-road racing world. The hiring of Antonio Cairoli, a champion rider, as a "high-performance test rider" underscores their commitment to excellence and performance in this new venture.
Strategic Partnerships and Plans: Cairoli and Alessandro Lupino, another prominent racer, will be operating under the Maddii Racing team, with whom Ducati has signed a multi-year deal to lead their racing program. The announcement also hints at future plans to extend into enduro racing, with a range of off-road engines and motorcycles in the works.
Technological Advancements: Ducati aims to bring their expertise in creating lightweight, high-performance motorcycles with excellent components to the off-road space. The bikes will feature the “Desmodromic system” used in Ducati’s motorcycles, ensuring a broad power delivery curve.
Ducati’s move into motocross has been a long time coming, with more than two years of development behind this project. The manufacturer has shown their commitment to making a significant impact in off-road racing by securing Antonio Cairoli, a celebrated champion in the sport. Cairoli himself expressed his excitement and pride in joining Ducati, highlighting the Italian spirit of the brand and his eagerness to contribute to the development of Ducati’s motocross bike.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, said:
"I am proud to announce Ducati's entry into motocross.
"A totally new world for Ducati in which we want to bring our talent in designing lightweight motorcycles, with excellent components and high performance and – above all – which can excite more and more motorcyclists.
"Just as we believe that the track is the best laboratory to develop and test the bikes that will then be available to customers and enthusiasts.
"This is why we have decided to cooperate with an undisputed champion like Tony Cairoli who, together with the passion and dedication of many of us here in Borgo Panigale, will contribute to making Ducati in off-road as capable in offering very high-performance products to its passionate customers as we have proven on the asphalt.
"The project is possible thanks to the company's excellent results in recent years and confirms our desire to extend our presence into new worlds, speak to new motorcyclists and therefore grow the Ducati Community."
Ducati's partnership with the Maddii Racing team and their plans to participate in the 2024 Italian Motocross Championship, with Alessandro Lupino as their full-time racer, further showcase their strategic approach to this new venture. The press release also dropped hints about Ducati’s plans to enter enduro following motocross, with a complete range of off-road engines and motorcycles in development.
"I am extremely happy to become part of the universe of Ducati, which has always been a symbol of Italian spirit throughout the world, and to begin this exciting new adventure, in an all-Italian project," Antonio Cairoli said in a press release.
Being able to make my contribution to the development of the Borgo Panigale motocross bike is a dream come true and a source of great pride for me."
While there are still many details to be unveiled, Ducati’s announcement has made a strong statement about their intentions in the motocross world. The anticipation around this move is high, and the motocross community will surely be keeping a close eye on Ducati’s next steps in this thrilling sport.
