Ducati is arguably one of the most premium bikemakers, often cited as the Ferrari of the two-wheeler world. And in this world, the youth is a key market with almost all of Ducati’s rivals - especially the Japanese four - which are paying plenty of attention to it. Naturally, you and we expect the Italian firm to follow the same path, but one of the company’s top executives - Andrea Ferraresi - has now diminished the idea completely.
“There’s No Entry-Level Ferrari” Says Ducati’s Head Of Design
Andrea’s answer to MCN’s question about entry-level Ducatis was rather quirky. He said young riders should start with other brands and then switch to a Ducati when can they afford one, just like enthusiasts do with Ferraris and Porsches. In fact, he hinted the entry price point of Ducati could even increase in the future, to around the price of the new Monster ($12,695). The problem with this approach, though, is that most other brands have full-fledged lineups from 125cc to 1000cc, which usually eliminates the need to switch to other brands. This, of course, isn’t true for Ferraris or Porsches, which Andrea used as an example.
As of now, Ducati’s range starts from $10,995 with the 2023 Scrambler Icon which isn’t exactly “affordable” for new riders, and neither is its 70-odd horsepower easy enough for newbies. It’s still a sensible investment in Europe if new riders buy the 35kW version of the Scrambler, learn, and then unlock the full power later, but this isn’t possible in the U.S. Additionally, though the Scrambler is a versatile motorcycle, it won’t cater to everyone, especially those who crave sportiness.
What About New Ducati Models?
When asked about popular-but-deleted for 2023 models (Diavel ‘S’, Urban Motard, Desert Sled), Andrea revealed there were no plans for these models at the moment. Ducati will make a decision later based on the new lineup’s success, possibly revealing them as MY24 models. In addition, he hinted there’s a slim-but-strong hope for an exclusive Ducati Desmosedici successor based on the company’s title-winning GP22 ridden by Pecco Bagnaia. Of course, the company already revealed a 237-HP Panigale V4 R recently, so the Desmo might arrive much later.
2022 Was A Success For Ducati
2022 was easily Ducati’s busiest year as it clinched the 2022 MotoGP and WorldSBK championships. With this, the firm also updated nearly all of its key players, ranging from minor electronic updates for the Panigale V4 to a full overhaul for the Ducati Diavel - which switched to a V4 engine for the first time. Its highest-selling motorcycle, the Scrambler, also received substantial updates.
Regardless of Andrea’s claim, we still hope Ducati takes the wraps off a mini-Panigale or Streetfighter in the future. Not only will this widen its audience, but also help Ducati master smaller markets like Southeast Asia. Would you want a smaller Ducati? Let us know in the comments!