A new Ducati rally project developed in collaboration with Rebel X Sports is targeting the 2027 Dakar Rally. Based on the Italian manufacturer’s EDS 450 enduro platform, the EDS 450 Rally will also be offered to the public, with production limited to just 35 units.

The new machine is set to make its public debut at EICMA this week ahead of the Dakar. Following the rally, Rebel X plans to open pre-orders for the final production version in February 2027, when pricing will also be revealed, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in July 2027.

The project is based on the Ducati EDS 450 introduced earlier this year and has been developed by Rebel X Sports, with Dakar racer and motorcycle designer Manuel Lucchese leading the engineering work. Rebel X says the goal was to combine the motorcycle’s Ducati origins with the demands of desert racing. Styling was developed in collaboration with Turin-based design studio Hyle Project.

Italian rider Tiziano Internò, known in rally circles as Rally Pov, is slated to race the prototype in the Original by Motul category, where riders compete without a dedicated assistance crew. Rebel X says his participation will serve as part of the motorcycle’s development program, helping gather real-world data in Dakar conditions before the production version is finalized.

According to Rebel X, the EDS 450 Rally features a number of purpose-built rally components. These include a full titanium exhaust system developed by Akrapovič and dedicated desert-racing ECU maps from GET, which the company says contribute to a significant increase in power over the base motorcycle. GET also supplied a GPS-enabled speed limiter designed for Dakar’s controlled speed zones.

Fuel capacity is listed at 34 liters, while the rear brake lights are integrated directly into the fuel tank assembly. A monoblock navigation tower houses the digital roadbook and supports powerful LED lighting. Braking duties are handled by factory racing-spec Brembo calipers, and Rebel X says suspension development is still ongoing.

The company plans to display the motorcycle in the Official Dakar area at EICMA, giving the public its first look at the project.

While Ducati-powered machines have enjoyed success in the Dakar Rally before, including the legendary Cagiva Elefant, Rebel X notes that a complete Ducati motorcycle has never contested the event. If the project reaches the Dakar start line as planned, it could mark a significant milestone for the Bologna manufacturer in rally raid competition.