Ducati continues to build its new off-road identity. The Borgo Panigale brand held a meeting dedicated entirely to off-road driving at the Búnker Moto Area facilities in Madrid, in which it brought together riders, ambassadors and content creators to test two of its most important models in this new stage: the Desmo450 MX and the new DesertX.
The event served to show the current capabilities of the range, but also to preview some of Ducati’s next steps within a segment that is rapidly expanding for the company. Among these plans are the arrival of the future Desmo250 MX and the Desmo450 EDS, two models with which the Italian manufacturer intends to expand its presence beyond motocross and large Adventure motorcycles.
During the day, Ducati wanted to combine competition, product and direct experience on the ground. It was not just about presenting motorcycles in a static way, but rather allowing a group of specialized content creators to ride them in an environment specifically prepared to discover their behavior off the asphalt.
A Desmo450 MX Factory for Víctor Alonso Rodilla
One of the central moments of the event was the delivery of a Ducati Desmo450 MX Factory to Víctor Alonso Rodilla, the rider in charge of defending the brand’s colors in the Spanish Motocross Championship, within the Elite-MX1 category.
Alonso Rodilla already occupies a prominent place in the still young history of Ducati within Spanish motocross. The rider managed to finish in third position in the fourth round of the season, thus achieving the first podium for a Ducati in the Spanish Motocross Championship.
The result represented much more than a specific trophy. It was confirmation that the sports project developed around the Desmo450 MX has the potential to compete from its early stages against manufacturers with a much longer history in this discipline.
The delivery of the Factory version now reinforces the relationship between Ducati and the Spanish rider, who will continue to be one of the fundamental pieces of the brand’s program in the national championship. Its sporting evolution will also allow it to continue accumulating experience and data in real competition conditions.
The Desmo450 MX constitutes one of the most ambitious projects developed by Ducati in recent years. With it, the Italian firm has transferred part of its technological and competitive philosophy to a completely new terrain, maintaining a clear commitment to electronics even in a specialty traditionally marked by lightness, simplicity and the direct response of the engine.
Charly Sinewan debuts his new DesertX
The most traveling aspect of the day was represented by Charly Sinewan, Ducati ambassador and one of the most recognizable figures in the world of great motorcycle trips.
Sinewan attended the meeting accompanied by his new DesertX, a model that fits especially well with his career and his way of understanding adventure on two wheels. The traveler shared experiences with the attendees and showed the possibilities of a motorcycle designed to combine long distances, demanding routes and off-road driving.
Their participation allowed us to connect the technical development of the new DesertX with a use much closer to the real world. In this type of motorcycle, not only the power or equipment matters, but also aspects such as ease of driving, overall balance, autonomy of use and the confidence that the motorcycle transmits when the asphalt disappears.
Sinewan’s presence reinforced precisely that versatile facet of the model. The DesertX must be capable of traveling for hundreds of kilometers, but also capable of handling itself reliably when the route becomes complicated, tracks appear or the terrain forces the pilot to drive standing up and manage inertia with precision.
The Desmo450 MX surprises with its ease of driving
Invited content creators were able to test the Desmo450 MX at the Búnker Moto Area facilities. Among the main impressions were its behavior, its performance and, especially, greater ease of driving than expected in a high-performance motocross motorcycle.
Part of that accessibility comes from its electronic package. The Desmo450 MX has two power maps, Ducati Quickshifter and traction control, aids that allow the motorcycle’s response to be adapted to different driving situations and grip levels.
Traction control is especially relevant on a motorcycle with these characteristics. In motocross, where the surface is constantly changing and the rear wheel works with highly variable levels of grip, well-calibrated electronics can help the rider make better use of the engine’s delivery without eliminating the ability to slide or accelerate decisively.
The power maps also allow you to modify the character of the mechanical response, while the quick shift facilitates transitions between gears under full acceleration, reducing effort and helping you maintain concentration on the line.
A lighter and more effective DesertX off-road
The new DesertX also left good feelings among the participants. Attendees highlighted an important evolution compared to the previous generation, especially in relation to agility and off-road driving behavior.
The new weight distribution offers a greater sensation of lightness, a decisive aspect when driving on tracks, broken areas or sections where it is necessary to change direction quickly. On an Adventure motorcycle, actual weight is important, but so is the way that weight is perceived from the riding position.
Correct mass centralization can make a bulky motorcycle more manageable, require less physical effort and transmit a more natural response to the rider. According to the impressions collected during the day, the new DesertX is clearly moving in that direction.
Participants also appreciated the response of the new V2 engine, especially for its greater power delivery from low revs. This feature is useful off-road, where a full and controllable response in the low and middle range of the rev counter allows you to overcome obstacles or exit slow corners without having to constantly keep the engine at the top of its rotation speed.
The result is a DesertX that seeks to preserve its traveling capabilities, but at the same time increasing its effectiveness when the route leaves conventional roads.
Bunker Moto Area, Ducati’s off-road center in Madrid
The setting chosen for the event was not coincidental either. Ducati has been collaborating with Búnker Moto Area since 2025 with the aim of promoting the practice of off-road and bringing this discipline closer to a greater number of users.
The alliance allows the brand to develop activities, tests and experiences in a controlled environment, making it easier for customers and fans to get to know the motorcycles away from a dealership or a traditional presentation.
This type of facility plays an important role in the expansion of the trail and off-road world. Riding off-road requires technique, training and an adequate space to learn safely. The collaboration between Ducati and Búnker Moto Area seeks precisely to facilitate that first contact and generate a community around its most adventurous models.
With the Desmo450 MX already competing and on the podium, the new DesertX reinforcing its country profile and future models such as the Desmo250 MX and the Desmo450 EDS on the horizon, Ducati makes it clear that its foray off the asphalt is not a one-off experiment.
The Italian brand is building a long-term project in which competition, technology and adventure converge. And although Borgo Panigale will inevitably continue to be associated with superbikes, sports engines and curved roads, it is increasingly evident that an important part of its future will also be written among ruts, jumps, stones and dirt roads.
