Simone Mancini Secures Historic Podium for Ducati Desmo250 MX in Switzerland

Young Italian delivers first European podium for Desmo250 MX as Vlaanderen claims MXGP top 10 in tough Frauenfeld conditions.

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Ducati celebrated a milestone weekend in Switzerland as Simone Mancini secured a historic podium finish for the Desmo250 MX, marking the bike’s first success in the European EMX250 Championship. The achievement came during the Swiss Grand Prix in Frauenfeld, which also saw a solid top 10 performance in MXGP from Calvin Vlaanderen under challenging weather conditions.

Held at the iconic Schollenholz circuit, the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship was heavily impacted by rain, turning the hard-packed and rocky surface into a slippery and demanding track for riders across all classes.

Mancini delivers breakthrough podium for Desmo250 MX

The highlight of the weekend came in the EMX250 category, where Simone Mancini powered the Ducati Desmo250 MX to its first-ever European podium finish. After placing fourth in the opening race, the Italian rider showed determination in the second moto.

Starting strongly and positioning himself inside the top five early on, Mancini initially dropped positions as worsening weather conditions made the track increasingly difficult. However, he regained momentum in the latter stages of the race, pushing hard and executing key overtakes to finish third in Race 2, which secured him second overall on the podium.

This result marks a significant milestone for Ducati, following last year’s first podium for the Desmo450 MX, and highlights the growing competitiveness of the Desmo250 MX ahead of its production release.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend,” said Mancini. “After a tough period with bad luck, this result really boosts morale. I felt comfortable from the start, got pole position, and managed two strong races. The final laps were crucial, and I’m happy to bring the bike onto the podium.”

Challenging conditions test MXGP riders

In the premier MXGP class, Calvin Vlaanderen delivered a consistent performance to finish ninth overall, maintaining his position in the championship standings. After a difficult start in Race 1, he fought his way up to 10th place, showing resilience on the demanding surface.

In Race 2, Vlaanderen improved his pace and race craft, finishing eighth after battling throughout the moto.

“Overall, it was a solid weekend,” said Vlaanderen. “We made progress with both my riding and the bike setup. It’s our first race in these conditions with this bike, so we learned a lot. The key now is improving starts to fight further up front.”

Teammate Jeremy Seewer, racing on home soil, experienced a more challenging outing. Despite strong starts in both races, he struggled to adapt to the slippery conditions, finishing 12th in Race 1 and 16th in Race 2, placing him 15th overall.

“The track conditions made things difficult,” Seewer admitted. “When it gets this slippery, it becomes tricky for me. I did my best and tried to stay consistent, but we need to improve in these situations.”

Positive momentum for Ducati’s motocross project

The Swiss Grand Prix proved to be a significant step forward for Ducati’s off-road racing programme. With a historic EMX250 podium for the Desmo250 MX and valuable progress in MXGP, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer continues to build momentum across multiple classes.

As the season moves forward, Ducati will look to build on these results and further develop both machines in the highly competitive world of motocross.