Towards the Motocross World Championship: exclusive interview with Paolo Ciabatti.

Before looking to the future, let’s take a quick glance at the past: did you expect to immediately win the title in the Italian Off-Road Championship?

The participation in the Italian Championship was part of the development program for the new bike and was strongly supported by our CEO, Claudio Domenicali. The Desmo450 MX that we raced in 2024 was the preview of the model that Ducati will offer enthusiasts starting in June. Being a completely new project and in uncharted territory for us, we were prepared to face some challenges. However, the bike immediately showed its potential, and thanks to Alessandro Lupino’s results, we managed to win the title, a goal that became more tangible as the season progressed.

If you had to identify a decisive factor that contributed to making the project successful right from the start, what would it be?

The Desmo450 MX is the result of teamwork, where the expertise of technicians with prior off-road experience merges with the technology and innovative drive that have always distinguished Ducati. At the heart of the project is the desmodromic system, a hallmark of all Ducati supersport bikes and a key strength of this one as well. But it’s not just the engine: there are also innovations in the frame and electronics that make this bike unique in its class.

The challenge now moves to the world stage. What have been the main areas the team has focused on in preparation for the World Championship?

Participating in the World Championship is a new challenge; one we approach with utmost determination and awareness. We’ve put together a team of riders with complementary qualities: Jeremy Seewer, who has been in the top five of the championship for the past four years, and Mattia Guadagnini, a young rider with great potential, as demonstrated by his results in MX2. A mix of established experience and emerging talent that we believe can make the difference. As for the bike, we are testing several solutions that will be introduced throughout the season, but we are confident that we have everything we need to achieve a good level of competitiveness.

As General Manager of Ducati Corse Off-Road, what promise would you make to Ducati fans?

The promise is to work with maximum dedication, as we have always done in every project we’ve undertaken. It will be a new journey, one that will likely present us with challenging obstacles, but we are determined and confident that we can bring Ducati to the top even in the world of motocross, just as we have done in MotoGP and Superbike.