A preview of what might be the next major team to join the SMX paddock, Troy Lee Designs Ducati.

WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: ALIGN MEDIA

From the moment Paolo Ciabatti pulled the cover off of the Desmo450 MX prototype last January at a launch party high up in the Italian Alps known as the Dolomites, Ducati Corse (Racing) has been working overtime to develop a state-of-the-art off-road motorcycle that they want to be competitive immediately. Ciabatti is the general manager of Ducati Corse Off-Road, but he was affectionally known as “the Pope of MotoGP” for elevating Ducati’s racing fortunes on pavement to heights the company could only dream of not so long ago. His move from the tarmac to the dirt was as big a story in Europe as the introduction of a Ducati dirt bike. It was also a sign of the huge commitment Ducati Corse has made to motocross and supercross.

“Obviously Ducati had this idea to go off-road for many, many years,” explained Ciabatti. “For whatever reason, the project and the plan was always delayed. It was, ‘Next time! Next time!’ Luckily, three years ago there was basically the approval to go ahead with this project.”