Alessandro Lupino returns to MX1 and wins the first round of the Italian Pro Prestige Motocross Championship in Ottobiano

• Lupino and the Desmo450 MX win and secure a red plate in the premier class

The first round of the Italian Pro Prestige Motocross Championship was held today on the sandy track in Ottobiano, about 60 kilometers from Milan. Track conditions, made particularly treacherous by heavy rainfall, forced the organizers to cancel the second heats due to limited time, after working overtime to make the track accessible and safe. 

The first of six rounds scheduled for this season saw Lupino, the 2024 Italian MX1 Champion with Ducati, return to the premier class after debuting the Desmo250 MX in MX2 last year, demonstrating its versatility. Qualifying with the second-fastest time in the morning's timed practice, Alessandro started fifth in the only heat, passing all his rivals and taking the lead on lap six, then decisively pulling away to cross the checkered flag in first place. The Italian rider immediately impressed with his speed and determination, giving Team Beddini and Ducati their first win of the season. Lupino and the Desmo450 MX will start the second round of the Italian series, scheduled for April 26th in iconic Maggiora track, wearing the championship leader's red plate. 

Alessandro Lupino: “I arrived in Ottobiano in less than perfect physical condition, with a bad case of the flu. Furthermore, I only got on a bike in January and was very busy with testing and commitments with the Italian Motorcycling Federation, without being able to prepare as I would have liked. This is another reason why I'm pleasantly surprised and very happy with how things went today. We're testing new solutions on the factory bike that have proven to be effective and could also prove useful to the MXGP guys.”