Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP and Ducati have expressed their long-term confidence in one another. During the team’s home Grand Prix in Arnhem, Ducati Corse and team owner Louis Vosters announced that their partnership has been extended until the end of 2029. The ambitious MXGP project will therefore have at least three additional years to establish Ducati among the absolute elite of motocross.
The timing of the announcement is notable. The first full season for Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP has not gone as both parties had hoped due to injuries. However, behind the scenes, confidence has only continued to grow. Not only in the current Desmo450 MX, but above all in the potential that still remains to be unlocked.
For Louis Vosters, the contract extension is therefore much more than simply putting another signature on an agreement. Since the beginning of the partnership, he says a close relationship has developed in which mutual trust, open communication and shared ambition are central.
Vosters: ‘We really work as one group’
In Arnhem, Vosters particularly emphasized the way his Dutch team and the factory in Bologna work together. He does not see his organization as a customer team that simply receives factory equipment.
“From the beginning, we have built a very strong relationship based on mutual respect and trust. There is a real sense of family within this partnership. We are not just a team working with a factory. It feels like we are working together as one group, with the same goals and the same ambition.”
It is precisely Ducati’s enormous drive to make progress that has convinced Vosters to commit to the project for the long term.
“No one within Ducati is satisfied with where we are today. Everyone wants to make the bike better. We want to improve every detail and, ultimately, of course, we want to win races and fight for championships.”
According to Vosters, improvements identified during races or testing are also addressed quickly. Ducati’s technical capabilities play an important role in that process. Advanced data analysis, simulations and extensive testing facilities are combined with feedback from the MXGP team and its riders.
Ducati: ‘There is much more to get out of this bike’
Ducati Corse also emphasizes that the current Desmo450 MX is still far from reaching the end of its development.
According to Ducati Corse Off-Road General Manager Paolo Ciabatti, the bike Ducati is currently racing in the World Championship already differs significantly from the prototype with which Tony Cairoli contested his first Grand Prix in 2024. Since then, extensive development has taken place in the engine, chassis and suspension departments.
However, a completely new generation is not expected in the short term. According to Ciabatti, that will probably not arrive before 2029. Over the coming years, the focus will therefore be on further developing the current platform. Vosters is convinced that the foundation is strong enough.
“The bike is much better than some people say. The base is good. The engineers are working incredibly hard, and sometimes we can barely test enough to keep up with everything. The bike is already quite competitive. With a number of further modifications, I think we will have a very, very good bike next year.”
Ducati’s American activities also play a role in the development process. Information from the American Supercross and motocross programme is exchanged with the MXGP project and vice versa. This creates a single international development programme in which both sides of the Atlantic can strengthen one another.
Romain Febvre Must Take Ducati to the Next Level
Ducati’s serious ambitions had already become clear with the signing of Romain Febvre. The world champion will join Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP in 2027 on a two-season agreement.
For Vosters, that partnership has a special significance. He supported Febvre at an early stage of his Grand Prix career and witnessed firsthand how the Frenchman developed.
“When you see how he has developed since that time, how strong he has become and what kind of fighter he has become, it is incredible. I am really looking forward to the next two years with him. We are bringing a real fighter into the team.”
According to Ducati, that mentality is precisely one of the key reasons behind his signing. Febvre does not simply want to remain active at the highest level for another two years; he wants to achieve something nobody has done before him: bring Ducati major success in MXGP.
Ciabatti explained that Febvre’s motivation was clearly evident during their discussions when he said that he wanted to be the first to win with Ducati.
The Italian also addressed rumours in Arnhem suggesting that Ducati had spent exceptionally large sums of money to secure Febvre’s services. While he naturally did not want to disclose contract details, Ciabatti stated that Febvre’s salary is in line with what he currently earns and with what Ducati believes a world champion is worth.
Febvre and Bonacorsi to Form the MXGP Team in 2027
Alongside the experienced Febvre, Andrea Bonacorsi will remain part of the project. Ducati sees great potential in the young Italian, who has been unable to show the consistency that was hoped for this season due to injuries.
The line-up for 2027 has therefore been deliberately built around two different profiles: a proven world champion with enormous experience and a young talent who can continue to develop.
Ducati expects Bonacorsi to benefit from Febvre’s arrival as well. At the same time, the Frenchman’s extensive experience and technical feedback should help further develop the Desmo450 MX.
Notably, Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP will reduce its line-up from three to two permanent MXGP riders next season. That is a deliberate decision. With the development of the motorcycle still progressing at full speed, Ducati wants to use its available personnel and new components as efficiently as possible.
New prototype parts are not always immediately available in sufficient quantities for three riders. With two factory riders, Ducati believes the team can focus more effectively on development without placing an unnecessary burden on the structure in the Netherlands.
Febvre Can Start Testing Immediately After the Season
Another important advantage is that Febvre will not have to wait until January before getting acquainted with Ducati. As soon as the current season has ended, the Frenchman can in principle begin testing.
Because of existing personal sponsor commitments, this may initially take place on a bike with neutral branding, but from a sporting perspective, nothing stands in the way of an early start to the partnership.
That gives Ducati and the team valuable months to help Febvre adapt to the Desmo450 MX and incorporate his feedback into the preparations for 2027.
Cairoli Remains Important to Development
Antonio Cairoli also remains an important part of the project. The nine-time world champion still tests regularly for Ducati and has recently carried out development work in both Europe and the United States.
A new MXGP appearance does not seem likely for the time being. However, should Cairoli himself want to race again, Ducati would be open to the idea. According to Ciabatti, his preference would be more likely to be for an occasional race in the United States.
The Ambition Remains the Same: Winning
Ducati knows that the step into the world of motocross is a significant one. The Italian brand has decades of experience and enormous success in road racing, but it started virtually from scratch in motocross.
That is precisely why the extension until the end of 2029 is so important. It gives both the factory and Vosters’ team the time to continue building the project without focusing solely on short-term results.
The objective remains unchanged. Ducati ultimately wants to achieve the same thing it pursues in the other championships in which the brand competes: win races and fight for world titles.
For Vosters, there is little doubt that the right ingredients are in place to achieve that.
“This extension until 2029 is not simply about signing a new contract. It is a decision based on trust. I believe in Ducati, I believe in the people, and I believe in the technical potential of this project. We are not yet where we ultimately want to be, but that is exactly what makes this project so interesting.”
“We have the ambition, the technical capabilities and the right people. And most importantly, both parties are determined to keep pushing. There is a major challenge ahead of us, but I am convinced that together we can achieve something very special.”
