A new chapter for Ducati in the desert: the EDS 450 Rally by Rebel X targets the 2027 Dakar, with just 35 production motorcycles planned after the race.
A Ducati heart has conquered Dakar before, powering the legendary Cagiva Elefant. But a complete Ducati motorcycle has never contested the rally. The Ducati EDS 450 Rally project aims to change that in 2027—and write a new chapter in a racing history that generations of Ducatisti have followed with pride.
Developed from the Ducati EDS 450 released last July, the project is the work of Rebel X, which engineered the complete rally-specification motorcycle under the leadership of Manuel Lucchese, an experienced Dakar rider and motorcycle designer. The goal was to bring together the motorcycle’s Ducati origins and the demands of desert racing, while collaboration with Turin-based design studio Hyle Project helped shape its distinctive appearance.
Italian rider Tiziano Internò, known to the rally community as Rally Pov, is set to ride the prototype in the Original by Motul category. His participation will form a key part of the research and development program, gathering data in Dakar’s demanding conditions to further refine the motorcycle’s performance and reliability before production. Competing without a dedicated assistance crew puts the rider’s endurance, mechanical knowledge and relationship with the motorcycle at the centre of the challenge. Reaching the finish of each stage is only part of the task: preparing the bike for the next day is part of the race.
The motorcycle combines factory racing components with dedicated technical development. Akrapovič designed a full titanium exhaust system, while GET developed specific desert racing ECU maps, together contributing to a significant increase in power over the base motorcycle. GET also supplied a GPS-enabled speed limiter for Dakar’s stage speed-limit zones.
The fuel tanks hold 34 liters, with rear brake lights integrated directly into their distinctive design. A monoblock navigation tower houses the digital roadbook and supports powerful LED lights, while Brembo factory racing calipers complete the braking package. Suspension development is ongoing, with the bike already equipped with non-standard components.
The Ducati EDS 450 Rally will make its public debut at EICMA this week, in the Official Dakar area in Hall 22, giving enthusiasts their first opportunity to see the motorcycle and meet the ambition behind it.
The program calls for “Rally Pov” to compete aboard a prototype at the 2027 Dakar Rally. Following the race, the final production motorcycle will be presented for pre-order in February 2027, with pricing announced that same month and deliveries scheduled for July 2027. Production will be limited to 35 units.
For everyone who has watched Ducati race and wondered what its story might look like beyond the circuits, this project gives that dream a destination: the start line of Dakar.