Antonio Cairoli, a nine-time world champion in motocross, is set to make a comeback to racing as he joins Ducati for the upcoming Italian Motocross Prestige MX1 series. Cairoli retired from racing in 2021 and took on a role as team manager for Red Bull KTM starting in 2023. However, he recently decided to leave KTM in order to pursue more riding opportunities and joined Ducati as a test rider for their new Desmo450 MX bike.
Cairoli will be competing alongside his teammate Alessandro Lupino, who won on the Desmo450 MX’s debut race at Mantova earlier this year. This will be Cairoli’s first race for Ducati and also mark the bike’s first competitive outing with a rider of Cairoli’s caliber.
The Demso450 MX is expected to make its debut in the MXGP World Championship on a full-time basis next year, with a possible unveiling at this year’s Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin. It’s an exciting time for both Cairoli and Ducati as they join forces to compete in the Italian Championship and showcase the potential of the Desmo450 MX on the world stage.
Ducati has made headlines by bringing out of retirement a nine-time World Champion to race in an Italian Championship event. However, this champion is not Valentino Rossi, as most would assume. The Italian rider in question is Antonio Cairoli, who has had an illustrious career in World Championship motocross, amassing as many titles as Rossi.
Cairoli started his career with Yamaha but made the switch to KTM in 2010 where he achieved great success with the Austrian manufacturer winning premier class titles from 2010-2014 and again in 2017. After retiring in 2021, Cairoli took on a role as team manager for Red Bull KTM starting