From GPMmotogarage: 100-hp V-twin Ducati Motocross Tribute…
In early 2024, Ducati made their much-heralded entry into the world of motocross with their specially-developed Desmo450 MX machine. The bike won its first-ever race in the Italian Pro Prestige MX1 Championship with rider Alessandro Lupino in the saddle — quite the auspicious debut!
In the 2025 MXGP season, the Ducati 450 motocrosser took several holeshots and a podium finish. That same year, nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli rode the bike in its US debut, showing top five speed despite some technical issues. The Desmo450 MX is slated for a full 2026 AMA Supercross/Motocross season with the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati team, and rider Dylan Ferrandis took a top 10 finish in the main event of last month’s season opener at Anaheim.
Not surprisingly for a Bologna-built bike, the Desmo450’s power is one of its main strengths. Seventy percent of maximum torque arrives at just 4200 rpm, which translates to very good holeshot potential. All in all, it’s pretty incredible that Ducati has developed a motocross machine that’s proven competitive at the most elite levels right out of the gate.
As you might imagine, the Italian brand’s entry into the motocross market has been thrilling for the world’s Ducatisti, and that excitement is trickling down into the customs world. Enter our new friends Paolo and Alessandro, the father-and-son team behind Italy’s GPMmotogarage.
“Paolo’s passion for motorcycles began as a young boy when an elderly gentleman gave him a crashed 50cc bike. He managed to completely rebuild it, transforming it into a motocross bike for enduro riding in the countryside around his home.”
Paolo went on to spend most of his life restoring and modifying motorcycles in his home garage, passing down his two-wheeled passion to his son, Alessandro. Both mechanical designers by trade, the father-son duo build custom bikes as a hobby.
The “Ducati MX900 Tributo” you see here began with a 1998 Cagiva Gran Canyon 900 in poor condition. The pair originally intended to resurrect the old Ducati-powered adventure bike with a few upgrades, but soon a more radical concept set its teeth into them — a “Maxienduro” based inspired by the Desmo450 MX:
“The idea came to us when we saw it stripped of its fairings in the garage — it looked very similar to modern cross/dual bikes. This led us to develop the concept of a powerful, lightweight machine that could be used on both pavement and dirt roads without compromise.”
In this way, the V-twin machine would become a celebration of Ducati’s entry into the world of motocross, especially with Antonio Cairoli as an official rider and tester.
Paolo and Alessandro stress that this was a BOB (Built on Budget) project, but you’d never know from the end product. Up front, they swapped in a set of motocross forks complete with a powder-coated 21-inch front wheel and custom spring settings for the bike’s weight, adapting the yokes and steering stem to fit the frame.
They fabricated a new rear subframe to mount the modified Ducati 450 MX plastics, support a custom seat base, and hide the modified wiring harness. Then there’s the one-off 3.7-gallon aluminum tank:
“This is the most important handmade piece. Since no commercial tank was wide enough to fit our frame (which houses the airbox), we built one from scratch. It was designed in foam, then modeled in CAD, and laser-cut. It features a unique two-sheet aluminium construction to minimize welds, and was bent and welded by hand.”
The bike is running an oversize racing airbox whose vents they 3D-printed in their garage, and the ECU was remapped for the intake modifications and custom exhaust, which features MP Dynasty Shark silencers. Meanwhile, the handlebars, risers, and footpegs come from Raximo (MTP-RACING GmbH).
The father-son duo have succeeded in transforming an aging Italian adventure bike into a 100-hp V-twin dirt bike that would certainly give our AMA Hooligan Enduro machines a run for their money.
“It feels like riding a motocross bike with massive torque and exaggerated power for off-road use.”
We hear it won’t be long before the MX 900 Tributo takes to the motocross track for testing — we can’t wait to see this “Maxi-Enduro” in action.
Below is our full interview with Paolo and Alessandro of GPMmotogarage. Credit goes to Craig Stuart (@scrambler_ams) for the above photos from the MBE Verona show, and Sara Del Barba (@Saradelbarba_) for the remaining photos. Enjoy!
Builder Interview: Ducati 900 Motocross Bike
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Hello everyone, we are Paolo and Alessandro, a father-and-son team and the founders of GPMmotogarage, our custom motorcycle workshop. By profession, we are both mechanical designers. In our spare time, we build special bikes as a hobby. We started with a Scrambler in 2020, followed by a Café Racer in 2023, and finally our latest “dual-style” creation completed in November 2025.
Paolo’s passion for motorcycles began as a young boy when an elderly gentleman gave him a crashed 50cc bike. He managed to completely rebuild it, transforming it into a motocross bike for enduro riding in the countryside around his home.
Throughout his life, he has bought and restored or modified various makes and models in his home garage, eventually passing this passion down to Alessandro, who has been around motorcycles since he was very young.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
The donor bike was a 1998 Cagiva Gran Canyon 900.
• Why was this bike built?
The bike was built to resurrect an old Cagiva Gran Canyon 900 that was in poor overall condition and missing many parts, such as the clutch. The idea came to us when we saw it stripped of its fairings in the garage — it looked very similar to modern cross/dual bikes. This led us to develop the concept of a powerful, lightweight machine that could be used on both pavement and dirt roads without compromise.
We built the “Ducati MX 900 Tributo” to celebrate Ducati’s entry into the world of Motocross and the arrival of Antonio Cairoli as an official rider and tester.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The design was inspired by the new Ducati 450 MX model, from which we sourced the plastics. Once we realized our donor bike could be an excellent base for a lightweight-looking Maxienduro, the project naturally progressed from there.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
This was a BOB (Built on Budget) project. As private builders, we worked with limited funds. In addition to a full engine service and rebuilding the missing clutch assembly, the following custom work was performed:
• Front End: Installed a complete motocross front end with a 21” wheel and custom spring settings for the bike’s weight.
• Wheels/Tires: Powder-coated the rims in metallic black and fitted Michelin Anakee Wild knobby tires.
• Chassis: Adapted the triple trees and steering stem to fit the new frame.
• Subframe: Fabricated a custom rear subframe to mount the Ducati 450 MX plastics (released in August 2025).
• Electronics: Modified and hid the wiring harness inside the rear subframe for a cleaner aesthetic.
• Bodywork: Modified the plastics to fit the bike.
• Fuel Tank: This is the most important handmade piece. Since no commercial tank was wide enough to fit our frame (which houses the airbox), we built one from scratch. It was designed in foam, then modeled in CAD, and laser-cut. It features a unique two-sheet aluminium construction to minimize welds, and was bent and welded by hand.
• Seat: Fabricated a custom seat base for a stable fit between the plastics and the tank.
• 3D Printing: Alessandro designed 3D airbox vents located at the front of the tank, which we printed in ABS in our garage.
• Components: Installed Raximo (MTP-RACING GmbH) handlebars, risers, and footpegs, adapted to match the bike’s style.
• Exhaust: Custom-made open exhaust system featuring MP Dinasty – Shark silencers.
• Performance: Oversized racing airbox and a subsequent ECU remap.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Ducati MX 900 Tributo.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
- Power: 100 HP
- Weight: 192 kg
- Fuel Capacity: 14 L
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
It feels like riding a motocross bike with massive torque and exaggerated power for off-road use.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
We are most proud of the aluminium fuel tank. It was the deciding factor for the project’s success and crucial for the desired aesthetic. As it was our first time attempting such a task, it required a lot of effort, but the visual result perfectly captured our original vision.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
We want to thank the companies that helped us complete this build:
• D.M.S Laser Srl: For laser cutting the tank sheets and various brackets.
• GDB Motorsport: For the suspension setup and servicing.
• Curzio Design: For the graphics that brought our aesthetic idea to life.
• Telecolor TV: For following our projects and sharing our passion.
• Raximo – MTP-RACING GmbH: For the high-quality components.
• Zuccali: For the technical material seat upholstery.
• MP Dinasty exhaust – Shark: For the silencers and exhaust line construction.
Follow the Builders
Instagram: @GPMMOTOGARAGE | @massera_28
Photographers: Craig Stuart (@scrambler_ams) for the photos at the MBE Verona show.
Sara Del Barba (@Saradelbarba_) for the remaining photos.
