Ducati start 2026 racing season with 2 special liveries, pays homage racing past

New Delhi: During the Valencia MotoGP tests, the first act of the 2026 season, Ducati paid homage to their arrival of their Centenary (1926-2026), coming to the track with two liveries that celebrate their glorious sporting history. A tribute interpreted on the track by Desmosedici GP bikes of Francesco Bagnaia and Nicolo Bulega.

The former they did with livery inspired by the 750 Imola Desmo, which became an icon when Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari finished one-two at the 1972 Imola 200 Miles. For the latter, Ducati came with the colours of the 750 Supersport Desmo, the bike which had taken Franco Uncini to the Italian 750cc title in 1975. 

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The debut of the historic liveries comes after a season highlighted by the competitiveness and sporting strength of Ducati. It has seen Ducati remain a benchmark in the world of bike racing with MotoGP at the centre of their racing success. Along with taking their twenty-first Manufacturers’ Title in Superbike, Ducati also delivered strong, consistent performances in the main national championships and made notable advances in their off-road project.

In MotoGP, Marc Marquez and Ducati dominated the season with unmatched pace, clinching the World Championship with five rounds remaining. The achievement was enhanced by Álex Márquez taking second place for the BK8 Gresini Racing Team, bringing Ducati a remarkable championship one-two, while Francesco Bagnaia wrapped up the season inside the top five.

For Ducati, this marks their fifth Riders’ Championship overall, and their fourth back-to-back one, achieved with three different riders (2022, 2023: Francesco Bagnaia; 2024: Jorge Martín; 2025: Marc Márquez).