Campionato Italiano MX – Brilliant Podium Finish on Debut for the Ducati Desmo250 MX

Words and Images by Ducati

The brand-new bike from the Borgo Panigale company was put to the test on the treacherous sands of Ottobiano. It immediately demonstrated great competitiveness and reliability.

•The Desmo250 MX passes the first test of the season. It took third place in the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship with a strong Alessandro Lupino.

It took just a few weeks for the Ducati Desmo250 MX, raced by Team Beddini Factory Racing, to conquer the first Italian podium of its very young career. Despite a painful and swollen wrist, the reigning Italian MX1 Champion managed to get on the podium at the first attempt. This demonstrated all his fight and tenacity.

It had been 10 years since Alessandro Lupino had ridden a 250 4-stroke. The first round of the Italian Prestige Motocross MX2 Championship was also the occasion for him to debut in a class he had never competed in before in the Italian series. The nine-time Italian Motocross Champion has 44 podiums to his name in MX1. Riding the Ducati Desmo250 MX for its debut, he also achieved his first personal top three in the Prestige MX2 Championship.

First in his group at the end of official practice on Saturday, Alessandro also recorded the best time in the subsequent timed session. He earned the second gate pick for the two motos on Sunday.

At the start of race one, the 34-year-old began just outside the top five. He moved into fourth after one lap. By the next lap, he was in third, maintaining an excellent pace and quickly closing the gap to second. He eventually took the position. However, his rival’s response was clumsy. After making contact, Lupino was sent to the ground with a sore wrist and the bike severely damaged. The Italian didn’t give up, though, and admirably gritted his teeth to cross the finish line in 10th.

Then, in the second moto, Alessandro was fifth out of the first corner. After three laps, he was in second, as he superbly found his flow. From there, nothing stood between the Desmo250 MX and the third step of the podium. This served as a fitting reward for a brilliant moto.

After the first round of the championship, Lupino is third in the standings with 290 points. The next round of the Italian Prestige Championship will be held at the Mantova circuit on March 29 and 30. It is a track where, a year ago, Alessandro rode the Desmo450 MX for its debut.

Alessandro Lupino on the Desmo250 MX

“I’m happy once again, we did a great job, and I have to congratulate the team at Ducati, who performed a miracle. The Desmo250 MX has only been running for three weeks, and today we came for a test day. However, if I hadn’t been taken out, we could have secured two second-place finishes. As a rider, I’m pleasantly surprised to have made it onto the podium and to already have such a competitive bike on our first outing.”