DIRT NEWS
DUCATI TAKES OFF THE GLOVES
Developed by Tony Cairoli and Alessandro Lupino using Ducati’ s Desmodromic engine, the first full-blown motocrosser from the Borgo Panigale brand has been released. Drawing on the expertise that Ducati has seen such success in as MotoGP and WSBK, the engineers have not only produced the only Desmodronic valvetrain in motocross but have created a totally new traction control system for the Ducati Desmo450 MX, a system that can be used to make it easy to ride for the club racer or a finely tuned rocket for the pros. Availability starts in Europe in June this year, with the other markets, as in us, having to wait a little longer but hopefully they will be in action here for summer. Even the test units have wowed the motocross world with Lupino winning the first race of the Italian Championship on debut and winning the title as well, showing the bike has pace, versatility and reliability.
The new traction control system has a bunch of patents swirling around it and it continuously tracks and adjusts actual rear wheel slippage and identifies how much is optimal in different phases, and a gentle pressure on the clutch can pause it, returning shortly afterwards. The bike knows when it is hitting jumps as well, so traction is virtually seamless and optimised for any situation, so getting those 63.5hp( at 9400rpm) and 53.5Nm( 7500rpm) to the ground as efficiently as possible is simply a twist of the wrist away. And that engine can hold revs up to its 11,900rpm limit if required, thanks to that valve setup. Launch-Control and Engine Brake Control can be configured to suit and even the quick-shifter is standard fitment. Other trick features are the things like rhomboid-shaped radiators, to give better cooling surface area without interrupting the ergonomics. Then there are the valves – 40mm
14 KIWI RIDER