Nine-time FIM Motocross World Champion will contest two rounds of Pro Motocross Championship as the Italian manufacturer prepares for full-time competition in 2026.

Ducati North America and Ducati Corse Off-Road announce that nine-time Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli will compete in two rounds of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship: RedBud (July 5) and Spring Creek (July 12), racing the Desmo450 MX.

These events will mark the first-ever North American race appearances for the Desmo450 MX, Ducati’s premier motocross machine, and Cairoli’s return to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship following his participation in 2022. The RedBud and Spring Creek rounds—two of the most iconic tracks in American motocross—will also serve as key development opportunities for the Desmo450 MX in U.S. racing conditions.

Before taking to the gate, Cairoli will appear as Grand Marshal at the Southwick National on Saturday, June 28, greeting fans and supporting Ducati’s North American motocross efforts.

Fresh off a strong seventh-place overall finish at the MXGP of Great Britain, Cairoli remains focused on racing as a tool for refinement. His participation in the U.S. rounds underlines Ducati Corse Off-Road’s goal of gathering data and feedback from real competition as the company expands its off-road footprint.

“This American trip is very interesting, especially from a commercial and marketing point of view. The U.S. market is the most important in the world, and our main goal is to debut the Desmo450 MX in the USA just a few weeks before deliveries begin, while enjoying iconic tracks like RedBud and Spring Creek,” said Antonio Cairoli. “We’ll be racing with the production bike to introduce it directly to American fans and enthusiasts. Before that, I’ll be in Southwick on Saturday, June 28, serving as the event’s Grand Marshal. I don’t have any particular ambitions—just to have fun and entertain the American fans.”

“Bringing the Desmo450 MX to race in the U.S. is a significant milestone in our off-road racing project,” said Paolo Ciabatti, General Manager of Ducati Corse Off-Road. “The level of competition in AMA Pro Motocross is extremely high, and having a rider of Antonio’s experience allows us to accelerate our development in real race conditions. These rounds are not just about results—they are about learning, adapting, and furthering the evolution of our motocross platform in preparation for the future.”