Ducati: where are the holeshots?

Not hillbilly
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I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am I wrong?

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soggy
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4/9/2026 1:50pm
I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am...

I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am I wrong?

They would have had a much better chance with Barca out there. Ferandis hasn’t historically been a great starter. 

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johnk408
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4/9/2026 1:52pm

The odds are against them with 1 bike on the track and even he missed a few rounds.

GPrider
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4/9/2026 1:55pm

seriously dude? How do you not know the answer to your own question. Take a guess, really, would love to see what you think

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MPJC
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4/9/2026 1:56pm

Maybe outdoors when the bike can really rev and take advantage of the top end power on the longer start straights?

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The Shop

Jkawi
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4/9/2026 2:12pm

I don't think a stock ducati has THAT much of an advantage over the other bikes for a holeshot. That difference is narrowed to nothing in the pro ranks. These guys are getting any power level and characteristic they want. Except Kawi of course. lol.

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4/9/2026 2:43pm
I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am...

I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am I wrong?

Are you not getting enough attention at home ? 😅

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mx251
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4/9/2026 2:59pm

I guarantee if they let my buddy Wooly Muffburger on one it would holeshot! 

Not hillbilly
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4/9/2026 4:25pm
I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am...

I don’t think I’m the only one that, at the start of this season, expected to see Ducati vying for at least a few holeshots. Am I wrong?

lostboy819 wrote:

Are you not getting enough attention at home ? 😅

Are you saying that I am starting to many threads? 

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4/9/2026 4:31pm
GPrider wrote:

seriously dude? How do you not know the answer to your own question. Take a guess, really, would love to see what you think

I’d rather, surprisingly, hear your opinion about it. This being a discussion forum and all…

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loftyair
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4/9/2026 4:36pm

Well, Villopoto, outdoors on a 250, a kawi. Pulling holeys over the world's greatest, on 450's!

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Mototech853
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4/9/2026 4:39pm

I think the high rev engine talk is not true. I would bet most if not all of the moto media have no idea how the desmo valve train works. Look at the dyno charts and see where it makes power compared to the Japanese and Austrian bikes. 

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4/9/2026 4:58pm

From what I’ve heard about the power on the Ducati is we can expect it to look better outdoors this summer.

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Not hillbilly
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4/9/2026 5:40pm

So here’s what I was thinking: Ducati is a technology-driven company, surely they would put a great deal of effort into start map tech as well as overall power. I thought that combination could possibly give them an edge. Of course, it would help if they had racers with better starting reps; neither Barcia nor Ferrandis are known as holeshot masters. Still, I am a little surprised that Dylan’s average start is only 11th (hat tip to the new stat website: https://smxmuse.com/rider/948).

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ohh_454
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4/9/2026 6:54pm
loftyair wrote:

Well, Villopoto, outdoors on a 250, a kawi. Pulling holeys over the world's greatest, on 450's!

That bike was probably better than a 450!!!! RV was deadly on those PC 250s. 

4/9/2026 11:14pm

  Put Friese on a Ducati, they will get 75% of the Holeshots, then block their way back to 20th place.

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3strokemx
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4/10/2026 5:15am

I thought Ducati had a real traction control system?  Not a retarded one like the other oem's.   

Guess the marketing cart got ahead of the engineering horse.

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Not hillbilly
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4/10/2026 7:21am
3strokemx wrote:
https://www.ducati.com/us/en/news/ducati-desmo450-mx-the-first-motocross-bike-from-the-borgo-panigale-manufacturer

My guess is that will take a whole helluva lot of experimentation to perfect for SX…

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3strokemx
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4/10/2026 7:47am
3strokemx wrote:
https://www.ducati.com/us/en/news/ducati-desmo450-mx-the-first-motocross-bike-from-the-borgo-panigale-manufacturer

My guess is that will take a whole helluva lot of experimentation to perfect for SX…

If it worked as described, it would be apparant on the starts

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Not hillbilly
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4/10/2026 8:16am
3strokemx wrote:
https://www.ducati.com/us/en/news/ducati-desmo450-mx-the-first-motocross-bike-from-the-borgo-panigale-manufacturer

My guess is that will take a whole helluva lot of experimentation to perfect for SX…

3strokemx wrote:

If it worked as described, it would be apparant on the starts

If it can help Dylan score one holeshot before the end of the season, I would say mission accomplished!

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TeamGreen
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4/10/2026 9:41am

Q: Ducati: where are the holeshots?

A: In Barcia’s pocket. 

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