Ducati has finally released details surrounding the follow-up to their Desmo450 MX, which was released last year, the Desmo250 MX. Hitting North America in September, you can learn more by reading their press release below.

Borgo Panigale, Bologna, 18 June, 2026 – Ducati is writing a new chapter in its history with the launch of the Desmo250 MX. One year on from the launch of the 450 MX – the first Ducati motocross bike of the modern era and the first in its class to feature a desmodromic system – the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer is continuing to round out its off-road range.

Like all Ducatis, the Desmo250 MX has its roots in competition, where the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer tests solutions that are subsequently made available to enthusiasts on production bikes. It was, in fact developed on the track in the Italian Prestige MX2 championship by Alessandro Lupino and inherits the strengths of the Desmo450 MX: precision, control, and reliability, all put to the test in the most fiercely contested segment of motocross, where the bike makes all the difference.

• The Desmo250 MX, powered by its new 249 cm³ desmodromic engine, is capable of reaching 15,000 rpm and offers a benchmark torque curve.
• Ducati Traction Control and Predictive Maintenance draw on the experience gained with the Desmo450 MX and have been developed specifically for this model
• The chassis, featuring a perimeter frame, aluminium swingarm and Showa suspension with Kashima Coating, offers agility and precision

A new chapter

After the Desmo450 MX, Ducati continues the journey to complete its off-road range with the Desmo250 MX. The 250 maintains the same inspiring philosophy as the 450: to test solutions in racing competition that will then be made available to enthusiasts on production bikes. The experience gained with the Desmo450 in the Italian and World MXGP championships has been transferred to the 250cc prototype, developed in competition in the Italian Prestige MX2 championship with Alessandro Lupino.

Ducati has made the Desmo250 MX a motorcycle capable of enhancing the riding skills of its rider, whether professional or amateur, pushing them to discover new limits. A bike that retains the best characteristics of the Desmo450 MX—precision, reliability, control—and applies them to the most technical and competitive segment of motocross.

Design and ergonomics

With the 250 MX, Ducati again confirms its approach aimed at introducing Ducati DNA to a necessarily essential motorcycle, where every detail has the sole purpose of offering performance and functionality. In particular, keeping in mind the need to ensure maximum freedom of movement for the rider, the Centro Stile Ducati worked on the surfaces outside the rider's legroom, introducing positive and negative elements that recall the openings in the fairing of the Panigale V4.

Similarly, the clean and lightweight rear mudguard recalls the tail section of Ducati sports bikes, and the front view is characterized by a number plate that echoes the scowling look of the new Panigales, and a front mudguard inspired by the Hypermotard.

The side panels and number plates have been designed so as not to interfere with, but rather to facilitate, the rider's movements in various riding situations. The front side panels are designed to facilitate leg movement toward the inside of the curve, while the lateral number plates feature a change in volume near the exhaust, which, also shown on the left panel, provides a reference point for the rider when he moves backwards on the seat.

The side panels, frame guards and lower part of the number plates also feature a grip-enhancing texture, which helps hold the rider's inner thighs and boots in place during acceleration and vertical jumps.

Engine - 15,000 rpm, desmodromic single-cylinder

The Desmo250 MX engine is a completely new, single-cylinder, 4-stroke engine with a chain-driven, double overhead camshaft, four-valve desmodromic valve train and a displacement of 249.7 cc, along with magnesium alternator, cylinder head and clutch cover.

The bore and stroke are 81 x 48.4 mm, the same as the Panigale V4 R, from which this engine inherits the most sophisticated solutions, but with completely revised geometry, weight and fluid dynamics to meet the specific needs of motocross. The extremely lightweight piston features a piston ring and an oil scraper ring, with a double-spar "box-in-box" design to combine rigidity and strength, reducing the contact surfaces withthe ultimate goal of reducing friction. For the same reason, the piston pin features a DLC surface coating.

The crankshaft is composite, while the connecting rod is one-piece. The valves and rocker arms are also the same as those used on the Panigale V4 R engine. The intake valves are made of titanium and have a diameter of 34 mm, while the exhaust valves have a diameter of 27.5 mm and are made of steel. The chain tensioner is hydraulically operated, offering more precise action than a conventional mechanical solution.

Thanks to the desmodromic system, which allows for greater valve acceleration, it was possible to achieve higher lift values than traditional systems, thus enabling more aggressive cam profiles with the same valve diameter to be defined. This consequently allows for a more extended and sustained torque curve, and in the specific case of the Desmo250 engine, a maximum rpm of 15,000, an absolute benchmark in its category.

The Desmo also offers greater torque at low and medium rpm, eliminating the need to overcome friction due to spring preload on the timing system. The Desmo rocker arms are coated with DLC.

Vibrations are limited thanks to a balancing countershaft, which integrates the water pump control, thus reducing the number of components and therefore mass and inertia. For the same reason, the tone wheel with pick-up is integrated into the rotor.

Fuel intake is managed through a mechanically controlled, 44 mm diameter circular Mikuni throttle body.

The intake uses a Twin-Air filter. The exhaust, completely new and equipped with a resonator, is made of a steel/aluminium mix and complies with the FIM 2025 regulation, which requires an exhaust noise level no higher than 109 dB (+2 dB tolerance).

The Desmo250 engine delivers maximum power of 44.5 hp at 12,500 rpm, and peak torque is 28.3 Nm at 8,800 rpm.

The radiators are not rectangular but rhomboidal in shape. This improves engine cooling, with benefits in terms of reliability and consistent performance, thanks to a 6.5% increase in radiating surface area, while maintaining narrow, close-fitting side panels that do not compromise the rider's freedom of movement towards the front.

The five-speed gearbox, with a quickshifter in upshift and ratios specifically defined for the 250 MX, features an aluminium drum, which makes it lighter and therefore reduces inertia. Likewise, the clutch, with a cup spring and seven-plate pack instead of the eight on the 450, uses a rear sprocket integrated into the basket, making it lighter and more compact axially. The chain is a DID 520, while the RK rear sprocket is made of aluminium.

The Desmo250 engine has a dry weight of 24.7 kg.

Maintenance

Thanks to its experience in Superbike and MotoGP, Ducati Corse has developed a specific algorithm for the Desmo450 that calculates a real-time engine stress index based on operating parameters and conditions of use. This index also considers the type of surface on which the bike is used and constantly increments an engine wear percentage counter. The system then updates the maintenance schedules based on this information, which can be viewed via the Ducati X-Link app.In this way, inspection and service intervals are adjusted based on usage, with more frequent interventions for professional/intensive riders or more spaced out for amateur riders, going beyond the traditional static schedules.

The service interval has been calibrated based on the use of Alessandro Lupino's bike; if the stress on the engine is lower, the application itself will calculate longer service intervals, resulting in an economic benefit for the customer.

Maintenance for the Desmo250 MX includes two types of intervention, defined as "MID" and "FULL."

The MID Service includes checking the valve clearance, which is performed after 45 hours, and replacing the piston, which can vary between 45 and 60 hours, depending on actual engine wear.

The FULL Service, which includes a complete engine overhaul, can vary approximately between 90 and 120 hours, again depending on the conditions and wear detected.

Chassis

The Desmo250 MX retains the twin-spar aluminium frame developed for the 450, designed and manufactured using innovative techniques, and features dedicated engine mounts to optimize stiffness, weight and strength. The choice of the twin-spar design, which creates the straightest possible engine intake duct and precisely angled to optimize intake efficiency and therefore performance, also led to the use of aluminium as the material for its construction. This design minimized the number of welds between the various parts, maximizing the material's mechanical properties.

The frame structure is composite, with cast, forged and extruded elements crafted from refined, high- performance aluminium alloys. The most stressed parts are made from self-hardening alloys with high mechanical properties. The cast front section is a distinctive feature, allowing the frame to consist of just ten components, compared to over twenty on rival solutions.

The chosen design, therefore allows for a lighter frame than steel tubing solutions, allowing for the precise adjustment of the quantity of material needed at each point to provide the right amount of rigidity and strength. This has resulted in an extremely lightweight frame, weighing in at 8.96 kg, which contributes significantly to the bike's total weight of 103 kg.

Suspension

The Desmo250 MX's suspension consists of a 49 mm Showa upside-down fork and a Showa shock absorber, mounted centrally on the cast swingarm with forged progressive linkages. The choice is based on the extensive experience in off-road competition of Showa, a longtime Ducati partner also on road bikes. As with the 450, the choice of spring-loaded suspension rather than air suspension was deemed the best solution to meet the needs of all riding levels and to simplify setup.

Suspension calibration has been meticulously tuned, with hydraulics developed specifically for this bike to achieve the best possible ride feel for the rider in all conditions, especially when braking and cornering. The result is a setup that minimizes load transfer during braking, acceleration and cornering, resulting in an intuitive bike that excels on tracks with varying contours and lines.The fork, featuring 310 mm of travel, has an aluminium fork leg with a 33 mm offset, Kashima coating on the fork sleeves and black anodized end caps. The fork features a closed cartridge design with external adjusters for varying compression and rebound damping. The shock absorber, made of black anodized aluminium, has a 16 mm stem and 129 mm of travel for a total wheel travel of 301 mm. In addition to spring preload, the shock absorber is adjustable for hydraulic compression (high and low speeds) and rebound. The fork is mounted on high-performance forged aluminium triple clamps, which are then machined to maximize the component's stiffness-to-weight ratio while maintaining a more premium aesthetic.

Brakes

The Desmo250 MX braking system, both calipers and master cylinders, is manufactured by Brembo, a longtime partner of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, whose experience has been fundamental in the development of the bike in a completely new environment for Ducati.

The discs, 260 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear, are supplied by Galfer and were developed to reduce unsprung weight, minimize the gyroscopic effect and increase the bike's handling.

Tires and Wheels

The Desmo250 MX features Takasago Excel rims with Alpina spokes, mounted on cast aluminium hubs, continuing the partnerships established with the DesertX Rally and the Desmo450 MX, intended for professional use. The same components, with the only difference being the billet hubs, are used on the Desmo250 MX ridden by the Beddini Racing Ducati Factory MX2 Team. The tires are the new Pirelli Scorpion MX32, with a 100/90-19 rear, for enhanced nimbleness when changing direction and entering corners.

Electronics and Controls

The Desmo250 MX capitalizes on Ducati's experience in developing electronic control and rider assistance systems. Specifically, while complying with the constraints imposed by racing regulations, the bike is equipped with a suite of controls that include Launch Control, engine brake management and, most importantly, an advanced traction control system that acts on the engine with the same results as systems used on road sports bikes and racing bikes.

All electronic controls are pre-configured in two Riding Modes available as standard on the Desmo250 MX.

By installing the accessory connectivity system, the Desmo250 MX is equipped with a Wi-Fi module that allows the X-Link app to reconfigure the two Riding Modes by varying the control intervention levels in each. The rider can then upload the modified Riding Modes to the control unit via the Wi-Fi connection provided by the accessory module.

The Riding Modes are managed via the switch panel on the left handlebar, which allows the rider to change the selected Riding Mode, activate or deactivate Traction Control or the Quickshifter, or finally engage Launch Control. The five LEDs on the switch panel indicate the status of the electronic controls and Wi-Fi activity.

Throttle Response

The Desmo250 engine's throttle response can be adjusted using two different throttle maps. Using the Smooth setting, engine response is smoother and more progressive than the Dynamic setting, which offers more direct power delivery.

Launch Control

The Launch Control system, with three levels of intervention, adjusts the rev limiter to help the rider make the most of the engine's power during starts. Levels 1 and 2 provide less invasive system intervention, while level 3 ensures safer and more stable handling at the start. The system deactivates automatically when fourth gear is engaged or the throttle is released.

Engine Brake

Engine braking management has been developed to help riders optimize motorcycle stability in extreme corner entry conditions by balancing the forces applied to the rear tyre under conditions of intensive application of the reverse torque resulting from engine deceleration. The EB monitors the throttle position, selected gear and crankshaft deceleration during aggressive braking, and adjusts ignition timing and spark advance to balance the torque forces applied to the tyre. Engine braking control can be set to two levels.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

The Desmo250 MX's traction control is a next-generation system, directly borrowed from the Desmo450 MX, which adjusts engine parameters for spark advance and ignition timing based on strategies that consider engine rpm, gear engaged, throttle opening angle and additional sensors. The system also manages the motorcycle's shutdown in the event of a fall or overturn.

The system is able to control the actual slip level, offering a tangible contribution in terms of safety and performance for riders of all levels. In a series of comparative tests, the DTC system provided an improvement in lap times, including between 0.3 and 1.6 seconds depending on the rider's skill level, with an average of around one second. At the same time, the same test conducted on bikes equipped with a conventional system showed improvements of between 0 and 0.5 seconds, or even a worsening of times.

The Ducati Traction Control on the Desmo250 MX can be adjusted to three levels, with a logic linked to the system's intervention (lower levels indicate freer and less intrusive control, while higher levels are designed to increase the bike's stability) and not to road grip. The system can, of course, be deactivated.

Accessories

Thanks to the Ducati Performance catalogue, you can build a replica of the Ducati Desmo250 MX ridden by Simone Mancini in the European MXGP. All the components of the factory 250 MX bike are available in the Ducati Performance catalogue, with the sole exception of the factory Showa suspension, which is not available to privateer riders.

The special parts offered include Factory parts machined from solid, such as the triple clamps, as well as a complete exhaust or Akrapovič titanium slip-on muffler, Brembo Racing brake calipers and Showa "Kit A" suspension. The list of available accessories will be gradually expanded.

Finally, to complete the Factory look, the Ducati Performance catalogue offers a complete technical collection created in collaboration with Drudi Performance. The collection includes an Alpinestars jersey/pants/gloves/boots set, an Arai helmet, a wind vest, a softshell and a Spidi rain jacket.

Availability

The Desmo250 MX will be available at select European dealerships starting in August 2026. UK price £8995. Distribution will expand to North America in September, followed by the rest of the world. US pricing is currently set at $10,595.