A century of passion and two Champions ready to write new pages of history: with Campioni in Pista, Ducati kicks off the 2026 MotoGP season in Madonna di Campiglio

For the fourth consecutive year, Ducati has chosen the unique setting of the Dolomites to officially inaugurate its racing season. With "Campioni in Pista", the event that transformed Madonna di Campiglio into the beating heart of Ducati passion from 18-20 January 2026, the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer kicked off three intense days of sport, fun, and sharing. This exclusive setting provided the backdrop for the official presentation of the Ducati Lenovo Team and the Desmosedici GP 2026.

The duo for the 2026 season will once again be Marc Márquez (#93), the reigning World Champion, and Francesco Bagnaia (#63), Borgo Panigale's most successful MotoGP rider, who is looking to redeem himself. The upcoming championship, kicking off with the Grand Prix of Thailand on 1 March, will have a particularly strong symbolic value for Ducati, which in 2026 will celebrate its centenary (1926–2026). The Italian motorcycle manufacturer has chosen to honour this historic anniversary with the livery of the new Desmosedici GP, enhanced by the matte Rosso Centenario colour and double white stripe.

The chosen shade of red is the same as the one used in 1949 for the Ducati 60, the first complete motorcycle produced by Ducati, and subsequently for the 1955 Gran Sport Marianna, the first Ducati conceived specifically for racing and designed by Fabio Taglioni. The livery is completed by two white motorsport-inspired stripes, reinterpreted in a modern key, which extend to wrap around the front air intake, a functional and distinctive element of the Ducati Desmosedici GP. A project born from the memory of the motorcycle manufacturer's history, designed by Aldo Drudi in collaboration with the Centro Stile Ducati.

With this colour choice, Ducati brings together three fundamental elements of its identity: red, the colour that has always distinguished it, the racing spirit expressed by the Desmosedici GP, and the celebration of the centenary of its foundation.

The presentation of the Ducati Lenovo Team and the Desmosedici GP took place on Monday the 19th at the PalaCampiglio and was broadcast live on the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer's and Dorna's digital channels, as well as live on Sky Sport MotoGP (channel 208). Fans in attendance also had the opportunity to follow the event in Piazza Sissi. This was a first, eagerly awaited preview, anticipating the in-person meeting with the public that afternoon.

In the heart of the town centre, fans were able to meet Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquezof the Ducati Lenovo Team, Michele Pirro, Official MotoGP Tester, Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO, Luigi Dall’Igna, General Director Ducati Corse, Mauro Grassilli, Sporting Director DucatiCorse, and Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Lenovo Team Manager, all of whom were warmly welcomedby those in attendance. Also greeting them on stage were Tullio Serafini, President of the Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board, and Roberto Failoni, Councillor for Tourism of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

Tuesday, 20 January was dedicated to the true spirit of "Campioni in Pista": sharing and having fun. The programme included activities designed for all participants, from skiing for enthusiasts, with the traditional race that every year involves Ducati management, partners, and journalists, and which also included Pecco Bagnaia and Giorgio Rocca, a former alpine ski champion, and a walk to Lake Nambino for those, like Marc Márquez, who chose to experience the mountains in a more relaxed way and in contact with nature.

Before dinner, all the guests gathered to visit an exhibition held in the suggestive setting of the Dolomieu Observatory, dedicated to one of the cornerstones of the Borgo Panigale company's identity: racing. The exhibition was conceived as an immersive narrative journey recounting seventy years of Ducati racing competition. At the centre of the hall were the motorcycles that have symbolized its greatest sporting successes, surrounded by a visual narrative of images and videos that retraced the most iconic moments associated with these models.

The protagonists of the exhibition ranged from the 1955 Gran Sport Marianna 125, which marked the beginning of Ducati's racing career, to the MotoE V21L, Ducati's first electric motorcycle. They included iconic models such as the 900 SS IOM TT and the 851 F90, the latter the protagonist of Ducati's first victory in the Superbike World Championship; the DesmosediciGP - 2007, with which Ducati won its first MotoGP Riders' Title; the Panigale V4 R, protagonist of four consecutive Manufacturers' Titles; and the Desmosedici GP - 2022, with which Francesco Bagnaia became the first Italian rider to win the MotoGP World Championship on an Italian bike. This unique exhibition celebrated Ducati's sporting DNA as the underlying theme of "A Century Made of Seconds," a distinctive element of the Ducati Centenary logo.

Created by Ducati in collaboration with the Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board and Trentino Marketing, and with the support of Audi and partners Lenovo, Monster Energy, and Shell, once again in 2026 Campioni in Pista confirmed its identity as an experiential event that transcends the mere sporting dimension. This event stems from the Borgo Panigale manufacturer's desire to showcase its world beyond the track, finding in Madonna di Campiglio the ideal setting.

The partnership between Ducati and Madonna di Campiglio continues to prove to be a winning choice, creating an event that is more spectacular and memorable each year, the perfect expression of sport, sharing, fun, and beauty, in unmistakably Italian style.

Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “Campioni in Pista has become a symbolic event for Ducati, and returning to Madonna di Campiglio for the fourth consecutive year strengthens our bond with a territory of excellence. Every year we look forward to this moment not only to present the Ducati Lenovo Team, but above all for the pleasure of meeting up, spending time together, and sharing time with those who are part of the Ducati universe. We are convinced that results also come from this: from the ability to work as a team both on and off the track, to build solid relationships, and to approach work with enthusiasm. Looking ahead to the season that is about to begin, with Marc and Pecco, we are lining up two absolute benchmark riders, with talent and a winning mentality, together with a team that over the years has demonstrated its ability to grow alongside its riders and consistently compete at the highest levels. This season, we will also bring an important piece of our history to the track, with a Desmosedici GP that has never been so representative of our identity. The Rosso Centenario livery, which brings together three founding elements of Ducati: the colour red that has always distinguished us, the racing spirit expressed by the Desmosedici GP and the celebration of the centenary of our founding. Seeing all this expressed on the track will be a special emotion.”

Maurizio Rossini, CEO of Trentino Marketing: "Madonna di Campiglio hosted the Ducati Team for the fourth edition of Campioni in Pista, an event that proved to be of great value not only in terms of media coverage but also of great engagement for the public and fans of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer. The event helped strengthen established relationships and create new ones, underscoring the passion for sport and the strong bond with the Trentino region. The location once again proved to be the ideal setting for an event capable of combining the Italian excellence of innovation, technology, and design - represented by Ducati - with the charm and identity of the Trentino mountains. This context fostered positive dialogue between the teams, partners, and numerous media representatives in attendance. Special thanks go to Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and his staff, the Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board, the partners involved, and champions Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez, to whom we extend our heartfelt 'good luck' for the upcoming racing season."

Tullio Serafini, President of the Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board: "The fourth edition of Campioni in Pista highlighted the growth of an event that has become a fixture in the local calendar. The consolidated partnership with Ducati, with whom we share membership in the Altagamma Foundation, and with Audi, which has been at our side since 2013 on innovation and sustainability projects, highlights our destination's ability to attract internationally renowned brands. Madonna di Campiglio confirms its position as the ideal place where sport, business, and top-level Alpine hospitality meet, offering participants authentic experiences in a unique natural setting. Every organizational aspect was meticulously managed, and the guests expressed their appreciation for the programme. With Ducati, not only a professional collaboration was established, but a true friendship that generates mutual value. The official presentation of the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2026 MotoGP season was as exciting as the activities on the snow and the convivial moments: all precious opportunities to build relationships and engage at a high level with a company that embodies Italian excellence, along with journalists and guests from around the world.”

Audi's participation further enriched the exclusive activities of "Campioni in Pista." Madonna di Campiglio is linked to the four-ring brand by a solid and consolidated partnership that has developed over time through projects aimed at enhancing the mountains, with a constant focus on sustainability and respect for the ecosystem. This collaboration also includes the Mountain Progress Lab, an initiative aimed at creating a low-impact mobility system that can improve the quality of life in the region.

Underscoring the sporting vocation that unites the two Audi Group brands, champions Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez took part in an adrenaline-filled Audi Driving Experience aboard the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance electric Granturismo on the frozen lake of Madonna di Campiglio. A perfect blend of sportiness and cutting-edge technology, it confirms the Audi Group's position as the only global player involved in both Formula 1 - the Audi single-seater will debut in the brand's first Grand Prix in March - and MotoGP, the pinnacles of motorsport, through Ducati.