Ducati Expands Off-Road Arsenal with All-New 2027 Desmo250 MX
18 June 2026, Bologna, Italy
Just one year after joining the motocross party with their 450, Borgo Panigale has officially unveiled its highly anticipated quarter-liter weapon: the 2027 Ducati Desmo250 MX. Developed directly in the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship by Alessandro Lupino, this machine brings Ducati into competition directly to the dirt.
The headline story here is the valvetrain. By deploying their legendary coil-spring-free desmodromic system, Ducati has engineered a high-revving 250cc single-cylinder that eliminates valve float entirely, allowing it to spin to an incredible 15,000 rpm limiter, setting a massive new performance benchmark for the MX2 segment.
Key Specs & Features
- Engine: 249.7cc single-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve Desmodromic timing system, liquid-cooled, semi-dry sump.Shares the exact 81 mm x 48.4 mm bore and stroke dimensions of the Panigale V4 R superbike.
- Power Output: 44.5 hp @ 12,500 rpm | 28.3 Nm (21 lb-ft) of torque @ 8,800 rpm.
- Engine Weight: An ultra-compact package weighing just 24.7 kg (54.4 lbs).
- Transmission: Dedicated 5-speed gearbox equipped with an upshift-only Quickshifter as standard, paired with a 7-plate hydraulically operated Brembo clutch.
- Chassis & Weight: Aluminum welded perimeter frame and matching aluminum swingarm. Total wet weight (without fuel) is a razor-sharp 103 kg (227 lbs).
- Suspension: Fully adjustable 49 mm Showa inverted front forks with premium Kashima coating (310 mm travel) paired with a fully adjustable Showa rear monoshock (301 mm travel).
- Brakes & Wheels: Brembo calipers biting down on Galfer discs (260 mm front / 240 mm rear). Fitted with Takasago Excel rims and Pirelli Scorpion MX32 Mid Soft tires.
- Benchmark Electronics: Derived from the 450 platform and managed via the Ducati X-Link app. Features 2 customizable engine maps, 3 levels of real-time slip-calculated Ducati Traction Control (DTC), 2 levels of Engine Brake Control (EBC), and 3-level Launch Control.
- Predictive Maintenance: Includes a MotoGP-derived system that calculates real-time engine stress to dynamically adjust and optimize service intervals based on actual riding style.
Availability & Pricing: The Desmo250 MX is slated to hit select global dealerships starting in summer 2026, with North American arrivals scheduled for late Q3 at an MSRP of $10,595. Australia $14,925 AUD, €11,790 in Europe and £8,995 in the UK.
