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All the people that don’t know shit are saying Ducati
ML mentioned Ducati 2026 in one of the last pit bits … so guess he doesn’t know shit?
All the people that do know shit say this as well
Looks like they will be mostly to be Ducati in 2026.
GasGas team still could be in TLD gear as part of the break up amends for 2025.
Husky has two semis, so one could be come GasGas.
Barcia could be one of the two launch athletes in the USA for Ducati in 2026.
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I gotta say, I’d be surprised if Bam sticks around that long. He’s made a ton of money. I have a hard time believing that he would want to spend the twilight of his career developing an unproven bike in Supercross. Look how the Beta or Triumph (or even McGrath/KTM) experiments worked out in year one.
I was under the understanding that Ducati wanted a team that could field offroad, MX, and even flat track teams for the new 450?
Back in the day (lol) the Hurricane helped resurrect Suzuki when they were kind of out of it. Not exactly the same but similar
I'd be surprised if Barcia is still around in '26 (at least as a factory rider) his results the last couple years have been all over the place. He's not even in the same league as Chase, Hunter and Jett, JCoop etc. IDK why Ducati would want their flagship new 450 rolling around in 12th place. Or not even on the gate with injury.
After signing with Suzuki in 1986, Bob rode a total of 2 Supercross races (on the same weekend in Seattle in ‘87) on the Suzuki 250 before throwing in the towel, so I don’t think that is a good example. If you’re referring to the work he did developing 125cc bikes for Suzuki 50 years ago in the deserts of CA, I think that is even less relevant to Bam’s decision whether or not to risk his health racing an unproven bike at the highest level possible in the 2026 AMA Supercross season. Not saying it can’t happen, but it would surprise the hell outta me. He’s got a beautiful wife and child at home and millions in the bank. Why bother?
Any manufacturer should be very excited about joining with the TLD team for the exposure and marketing it would bring.
Something good should come of this and if it is Ducati would be cool
Are we thinking of the same Justin Barcia here? He is absolutely deserving of a factory ride. He has had a rough year, but please list all the non-factory guys that are more deserving. I can’t think of a single one.
He has been a top 5-7 guy this year in MX with busted up knees.
He is the best rider Ducati could hope for, no way in hell a championship contender like Webb, Eli, Chase, etc. gets on a unproven bike no matter how much they pay.
Like it or not, Bam is still one of the top 450 supercross riders in the world. He's won A1 back to back in recent years and let's not forget that he was contending for a moto win against some tough competition a year ago at the LA SMX round before he completely wadded up and broke himself off. Compound coming off that injury list with a new 450 chassis that the KTM group are just now getting their heads wrapped around and Barcia's 2024 results make better sense. He also got injured again mid-season. He should be much better in 2025. If Ducati intend on racing AMA 450 SX in 2026, they will need a seasoned 450 race winner to help finalize race development of that bike in the '25 off season. His testing skills at this point in his career should be quite strong, he's always in shape and he has a great fan and social following. You may think Bam isn't a good choice for Duc, but I see him as an excellent choice to keep around and debut their new 450.
Your partially right. Yes, Bob quit SX, but he rode MX and developed bikes for Suzuki for three years. The point is that if Justin wants to continue in a role like that then more power to him. I doubt that he honestly thinks he is going to be at the tip of the spear during that time.
So would they call it:
Team TLD Ducati: Troy Lee Designs Ducati
or
Team TLD: Troy Lee Ducati
Maybe I misunderstand. If the KTM group wants GG and Husky want to combine to reduce costs (as per the latest podcasts) then how is it possible they are pulling the rug out from under TLD? Perhaps they are in on this plan. After all, TLD would have contracts with Bam or Ryder D for 2025?
The Ducati deal would be a great fit. Time will tell!
I agree with some of your POV, but Barcia to me seems too old and too inconsistent to throw a long-term high dollar contract at. My comments toward Barcia aren't meant negatively I'm a fan.
Pit Row
Those contracts may be with GasGas directly and not with TLD.
i see Roczen closer to Ducati usa then Barcia.....
Thought that Ducati wanted a team based on the east coast. So will tld get a new shop then some place in Cali?
Team TL double D . With Hooters as a title sponsor.
With Ducati’s bank account and Troy’s marketing connections, this team is sure to make a media splash. Only time will tell if the bike will hold up but I think this will be a good marriage between the two companies. Im assuming the team will be California based..? 🤔
I agree that other than being based in Cali, TLD is the perfect fit image wise.
I don't know much about Ducati as far as how they like to run a team. I picture a factory Honda environment . So from that point of view, bringing back the FC Honda team or JGR would bring more of the strong will to win feeling that I associate teams like Honda. And from the little I have read about Ducati it seems like they are more results focused , or equally results and image focused.
Who they have run the team might shed some more light on why they are getting into making MX bikes. Are they out there to try and dominate? Or out there to be the coolest looking and results are not the highest priority. I am happy they want to be a part of the sport as long as they plan to be around for a while. It will be a good thing.
I don't. Pretty sure Roczen would rather spend his last few years on a bike he's comfortable on and try to get some good results rather than essentially be a test rider.
Even if so, they want to field a 2 rider team. Barcia would be an amazing second rider to someone like Kenny. Plus the Redbull connections help tie everyone together.
Ducati, Triumph, and Beta are literally about to account for 5-6 new factory 450 seats in 2026. Such a cool time in our sport.
I could see a rider wanting to help develop a bike and team too. And having that as a part of their legacy. As a rider gets older, if they are still loving to ride. And it looks like both Kenny and Justin love to ride.
There are riders who have gone on to help develop bikes after they stop racing. RC with Triumph, Tedesco and Tickle have been test riders, Torteli with the RMZ 450 at Suzuki and now with Stark. It could be perfect timing to get one or both of those guys. I am a fan of both riders , so it hurts to say.
If Ducati is coming in to try and win 450 titles, they will have to try and get a Lawrence, Sexton or Deegan to really compete. Tomac looks like he will finish his time racing with Yamaha and is close to calling it good. Webb in another year and a half is also going to be closer to the end. Justin Cooper is getting better but he is older than most 450 rookies.
Its funny 2026 is not that far away, but its hard to try and think of who could take a step up in riding to be on the title winning level by then.
The guy's old - he'll be in his late 80s by 2026. As for riders for Ducati presumably some of the top 250 guys would be in contention. Barcia's had a very long run, it's time him and the rest of his generation moved on.
Webb and Eli won't be title contenders in 2 more years..
I'd be going after Hunter if I was Ducati.. but I have no idea what his contract status is and it might be hard to split the brothers up, but I can't see them being on the same team there whole career either.
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