Ducati MX, the Cairoli era: lightning-fast world debut, solid results, and dreams spanning the United States and a future Dakar

Tony Cairoli had decided to retire, but few truly believed it. His passion was, and is, too strong. Two years after leaving racing, the nine-time motocross world champion returned to electrify the crowd and the track: from the Trentino GP to the American challenges at RedBud and Millville, all the way to the Motocross of Nations, even facing a hand fracture.

In 2025 Cairoli put the helmet back on: first at the Trentino GP, then in the two American races at RedBud and Millville, and finally at the Motocross of Nations, where he gritted his teeth despite a hand fracture. Solid results, valuable technical insights, and, for a few laps, the feeling he could still fight for the top spots.

Today Tony Cairoli is the face of the Ducati MX project, leading the development of the Desmo450 and the new 250, and he doesn’t rule out a return to the United States in 2026. Between training, mentoring young talents of the red from Borgo Panigale, and a freer life split between family and bikes, he’s living a second career that, deep down, isn’t so different from the first.

“Bringing Ducati to the track in such important championships was special,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We went out there aiming to have fun and do well: the speed was there and the positions were top ten. For such a young bike, that’s an excellent sign.”

On returning to competition, Tony Cairoli is realistic: “The desire to win is always there, but the bike is only a year old and in the USA we raced with a version that was almost stock. The others had more developed machinery. The competitive hunger was there, but it needed managing.”

Cairoli is an integral part of the technical development: “At KTM I worked on the official race bike; here we’re starting from scratch. We develop every component: it’s a broader, more intense job.” And the results are clear: “The current bike is the result of development that began last year. In just a few months we’ve already reached a world debut: the speed of evolution is remarkable.”

Among the USA races, RedBud remains the most intense moment: “In the first moto I was among the top five and finished third. That’s where I realized the top 5 was possible. A technical issue stopped us afterward, but that moto showed the potential.”

Regarding young riders, Cairoli notes differences compared to his era: “I see less dedication to sacrifice. I always added extra minutes to the work; today people often settle.” On today’s races: “Now you go flat-out right from the start, whereas before you built the race and gave everything in the final minutes. The bikes have become easier and the field is closer.”

For 2025 and 2026, the plan is clear: “The Desmo450 is on sale and we’re working on updates. The 250 project is starting, with tests together with Lupino. I’ll follow the youngsters for the European and World 250, and in 2026 I’ll do a few races in the USA as a test rider.” Cairoli has resumed training regularly, enjoys the freedom to choose between workouts and family, and still has ambitious sporting dreams: “A big rally raid, maybe the Dakar. I’m fascinated by all the work it requires.”

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