World-famous Italian manufacturer Ducati will debut its Desmo450 MX model in the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship with the British-based VRX Dirt Store Ducati Race Team running a two-rider set-up in the ten-round series.
Best known for its administration of the Great Britain Speedway Team, VRX Management has partnered with Dirt Store – one of the UK’s leading suppliers of off-road apparel, parts and equipment – and will field British riders Tim Neave and Ashton Boughen for Ducati’s entry into this fast-growing discipline.
The reigning British champion and a former British Superbike Championship contender, thirty-year-old Neave made his FIM Flat Track World Championship debut in 2023 and the following season missed out on an FIM bronze medal on a tie-break. Neave – who has scored four podiums, but is still chasing his first victory at the highest level – will be aiming to improve on his current sixth-placed ranking, while the 2026 season will present a steep learning curve for his teenaged team-mate.
Aged just eighteen, Boughen is regarded as a serious up-and-coming talent who has previously raced Motocross for Yamaha Europe. More recently active in the sport of Speedway, he has now decided to concentrate on the FIM Flat Track World Championship.
The pair will line-up on Ducati’s ground-breaking Desmo450 MX model – developed in conjunction with Italian legend and nine-time FIM Motocross World Champion Tony Cairoli – that features desmodromic timing and combines cutting-edge technology with race-proven performance.
Extended from six to ten rounds this year as a mark of its fast-growing popularity, the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship will visit eight countries and two continents over an intense five-and-a-half-month schedule, starting in Roden in the Netherlands on 9 May and concluding with two rounds in Argentina – its first-ever dates outside of Europe – over the weekend of 24-25 October.
Fabrizio Cazzoli, Managing Director Ducati UK, said: "Ducati UK is delighted to extend its congratulations to the newly established VRX Dirt Store Ducati Race Team as they embark on this exciting new chapter. We are proud to see the Ducati Desmo 450 MX showcased in an environment that differs from its traditional cross setting. As the very first flat track team to utilise this model, this initiative highlights the remarkable versatility and adaptability of the Ducati platform. This project represents an important milestone, demonstrating how the Desmo 450 MX can perform across diverse disciplines while maintaining the performance and engineering excellence synonymous with the Ducati name. We wish the Team every success for the season ahead and look forward to following their progress closely."
Rob Painter, Managing Director VRX Management Ltd, said: “We’ve kept a very close eye on the growth of the FIM Flat Track World Championship in recent years, and we have also attended various events in the series to gain a full understanding of how the series operates. The opportunity to partner with an iconic manufacturer such as Ducati, who themselves are excited to see their recently launch Desmo 450 MX racing in the FIM Flat Track World Championship for the first time, is one we were very keen to take, and we are delighted it has come to fruition along with the vital support from Dirt Store. We know there is a great deal to learn when entering a new discipline, so to have the experience of Tim Neave on board is another huge positive and can only aid our development. We also want to help him achieve his own aspirations in what is a really competitive series. Ashton Boughen has already shown his talent on a motorcycle in various disciplines, and whilst this will be a new challenge for him, we’re confident he will thrive in this environment, and we look forward to seeing him progress. We’re hugely excited about the year ahead, and we can’t wait to present the new VRX Dirt Store Ducati Race Team at the opening round in Roden. I would like to thank Ducati’s Paolo Ciabatti, Fabrizio Cazzoli and Sara Falzolgher for their trust and support in this new project."
Dan Giffard, Dirt Store Founder, said: “Dirt Store is one of the UK’s leading online off-road retailers. Originally launched in 2023, Dirt Store provides riders of all abilities with the latest and greatest off-road products. Founded by avid riders, Dan and Nick, Dirt Store’s overarching aim is to develop the off-road motorsports community and push the sport to new audiences. From the amateur levels, to the pinnacle of professional racing, Dirt Store has supported riders across various motocross, enduro and speedway events. The partnership with VRX Dirt Store Ducati is the retailers first step into flat track racing, and the team at Dirt Store are excited to be branching out into another new discipline.”
Armando Castagna, Director of the FIM Track Racing Commission, said:“It is clear that the sport of Flat Track is continuing to grow and flourish and the involvement of a manufacturer with the global prestige of Ducati is yet more evidence of this. The VRX Dirt Store Ducati Race Team is a very worthy addition to the championship roster and I wish both its riders – along with everyone else competing this season – the very best of luck. With full entries, new names and an extended series, the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship promises to be very exciting.”
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