The Ducati Desmo450 MX Is Officially in Production - UK Arrival Date Confirmed
The first Ducati Desmo450 MX has rolled off the production line, and bikes should be in selected UK dealers this July
Ducati’s first crack at a proper motocross machine is no longer a concept or a race-only prototype – the Desmo450 MX has officially rolled off the production line in Borgo Panigale, marking a historic moment for the Italian firm.
The news follows hot on the heels of Jeremy Seewer’s second podium finish aboard the Desmo450 MX in the French GP, adding some proper racing pedigree to the production debut. Ducati’s new dirt weapon will begin landing in European dealerships from July 2025, and it’s packing tech and spec that should make even the most hardened off-road veterans sit up and take notice.
Developed with help from motocross royalty in the form of nine-time world champ Tony Cairoli and Alessandro Lupino (who already snagged a national title on it), the Desmo450 MX isn’t just Ducati playing in the sector. This is a purpose-built, race-tested machine designed to be competitive straight out of the crate, whether you’re a weekend warrior or chasing trophies on the world stage.
At its heart is a 449.6cc single-cylinder engine with Ducati’s signature Desmodromic valve system – a world first in this segment. The idea? More useable power across the rev range, letting riders make the most of each gear, whether launching off the line or threading through a tight rhythm section.
And while most MX bikes keep electronics to a bare minimum, Ducati’s thrown in something properly trick: traction control. Not just any TC, either, as the Ducati system can accurately read rear-wheel slip and can tell when to intervene (and more importantly, when not to intervene). It's the kind of cleverness you'd expect on a Panigale, not a motocrosser.
The chassis isn’t short on attention either. A lightweight aluminium frame with minimal welds keeps things stiff, light and strong. Ducati says it’s built to amplify rider ability, reduce fatigue, and boost confidence – all of which are handy when you’re flat-out in third and your back end starts doing the samba.
Speaking about the project, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said:
“We searched for the unique elements of Ducati’s identity and found that closeness between racing and production. Add to that a surprising number of off-road fans in our own team, and the Desmo450 MX was born – a fast, fun, high-performance bike for all riders.”
Naturally, there’s a full suite of Ducati Performance bling available too – from billet aluminium triple clamps and hubs, to a titanium Akrapovič slip-on and proper Brembo Racing calipers. If you want to match the bikes of Seewer and Guadagnini in MXGP spec, you can get pretty close.
There’s even a full factory-style wardrobe in the works, created with Drudi Performance and featuring kit from Alpinestars and Arai. Because if you’re going to crash, you might as well look good doing it.
As mentioned, the £11,245 Desmo450 MX will be landing in selected UK and European dealerships from July 2025. The UK dealers taking on the new machines will be Ducati Cambridge, Ducati Leeds, Ducati Preston, Ducati North London, Chris Walker Motorcycles, GT Motorcycles and Millsport Motorcycles. All locations are currently undergoing training on servicing and repairing the all-new bikes.
You can find out more about the new Ducati Desmo450 MX on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
