Ducati officially inaugurated its racing season in the Dolomites, during the Campioni in Pista event, held between January 18th and 20th, in Madonna di Campiglio.
The program brought together sporting activities, actions with the public and the official presentation of the Ducati Lenovo Team and the new Desmosedici GP 2026, marking the beginning of the Italian manufacturer’s competitive year.
For the 2026 season, the Ducati maintains the duo formed by Marc Marquez (#93), current world champion, and Francesco Bagnaia (#63), the most successful MotoGP rider in the history of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer. The championship is scheduled to begin on March 1st, with the Thai Grand Prix, and will have a special meaning for the brand, which celebrates its centenary in 2026 (1926–2026).
To mark the date, Ducati presented a commemorative livery for the new Desmosedici GP, highlighted by the matte Rosso Centenario tone and a double white stripe.
The red chosen refers to that used in 1949 on the Ducati 60, the first complete motorcycle produced by the company, and later on the 1955 Gran Sport Marianna, the brand’s first model developed specifically for competitions and designed by Fabio Taglioni.
The white stripes, inspired by motorsport, have been reinterpreted in a contemporary language and surround the motorcycle’s front air intake. The project was developed by Aldo Drudi in collaboration with Centro Stile Ducati.
The official presentation of the team and the new bike took place on Monday, January 19, at PalaCampiglio, broadcast live on Ducati, Dorna and Sky Sport MotoGP digital channels.
Before the closing dinner, guests visited an exhibition at the Dolomieu Observatory dedicated to the sporting history of the Ducati.
Conceived as an immersive journey, the exhibition recalled 70 years of the brand’s competitions, with historic motorcycles and a visual narrative made up of images and videos of memorable moments.
Among the models on display were the Gran Sport Marianna 125 from 1955, the 900 SS IOM TT, the 851 F90, the Desmosedici GP from 2007, the Panigale V4 R, the Desmosedici GP from 2022 and the MotoE V21L, Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.
The exhibition integrated the concept “A Century Made of Seconds”, the theme of the brand’s official centenary logo.
Source and images: Ducati. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
