Hero Racing and Ducati Desmo450 EDX Carry Dominant Form into Vegas to Reno, Lead Inaugural American Off-Road Racing Championship

Sunnyvale, Calif., May 7, 2026 — Hero Off-Road Racing, a team supported by Malcolm Smith Motorsports, continues to set the pace in U.S. desert racing, capturing a commanding victory at the recent Best In The Desert Silver State 300 and building momentum toward the upcoming Best In The Desert “Vegas to Reno” race in August.

Fresh off a wire-to-wire win at the Silver State 300, the Hero Racing team once again showcased the performance and durability of the Ducati Desmo450 platform. Ciaran Naran qualified first and led the opening half of the race before handing off to teammate Lyndon Snodgrass, who maintained a relentless pace to secure victory by nearly 20 minutes aboard the Desmo450 EDX. The result follows another victory and standout performance earlier this season at the Mint 400, further cementing the team's position as a dominant force in desert competition.

With the win, Naran extends his lead in the inaugural American Off-Road Racing Championship standings—a new series for 2026 developed between Best In The Desert and Unlimited Off-Road Racing. The championship format elevates traditional one-off desert races into a season-long title fight, and Ducati's presence at the top of the standings in its first year marks a significant milestone for the brand's off-road racing efforts in North America with the debut of its off-road Desmo 450 platform.

As attention turns to the legendary Vegas to Reno—the longest off-road race in the United States—Ducati North America is encouraging riders across the country to line up and compete through its expanding Ducati Race Rewards contingency program. Designed to support racers at multiple levels, the program offers meaningful payouts across key classes, rewarding performance in one of the toughest races in the world. For Vegas to Reno, Ducati will award up to $5,000 to the Open Pro winner, with additional payouts across the podium in Open Pro, Open Expert, and Open Amateur motorcycle classes—further reinforcing Ducati's commitment to supporting riders at every level of competition.

To further support competitors, Ducati will offer complimentary onsite factory support for the Vegas to Reno race, delivering technical assistance including set-up, pre-technical inspection, fluids and race-day resources at the mid-point from Ducati's own Service Team to participating Ducati riders. In addition, Ducati has received further support from Pirelli to ensure its riders have the best tires for the race.

Vegas to Reno will be held August 12 – 15, 2026, in Reno, Nevada.  Race results and updates will be published at Ducati.com or BITD.com/V2R/.