Ducati’s arrival in the off-road world has already generated plenty of headlines in motocross and enduro, but one of its biggest success stories has come on the dirt-track ovals of the world, where the Desmo machine, with two British racers on board and a brand-new team behind it, has taken the Flat Track world by storm.
Feature Image courtesy of Jesper Veldhuizen
In its first season competing in the FIM Flat Track World Championship, the British VRX Dirt Store Ducati team has emerged as a major force, with Tim Neave and Ashton Boughen sitting first and second in the championship with three rounds remaining.
Dirt Hub caught up with Vicky Blackwell of the VRX Dirt Store Ducati Flat Track Racing team to find out how the Ducati project came together and what goes into turning the Desmo450 MX into a World Championship Flat Track machine, before getting the thoughts of championship leader Tim Neave and his young teammate Ashton Boughen.
Building the VRX Dirt Store Ducati Flat Track team
Dirt Hub: You guys already run the Team GB Speedway set-up, so how did the Flat Track team come about?
Vicky Blackwell: As you can imagine, we have a lot of experience of racing around in circles, and we have an interest in motorsport from all around the world, both two and four wheels. We were asked to take a look at the FIM Flat Track World Championship, and we felt that we could bring something exciting to the series.
DH: How did things come about with Ducati?
Vicky: Timing was the key, really. Ducati had just launched their first-ever off-road motorcycle, the Ducati Desmo450 MX, in June last year, and we had been watching the progress they were making in Supercross in the US and in MXGP, all of which was very cool. We didn’t want to be ‘just another team’, and Ducati isn’t just another motorcycle manufacturer! A truly global iconic brand, and for us there was only ever one choice.
DH: With the team being new and the Ducati also being new in terms of dirt bikes, how has it been starting from scratch?
Vicky: There have definitely been some challenges in setting up a new team. We didn’t expect it to be easy and it isn’t! One of our strengths is creating high-performance teams, looking closely at the fine detail and trying to be the best we can across all areas. We are fortunate to have excellent relationships with our commercial partners, and it really does make a huge difference to work with amazing people!
DH: What changes did you initially have to make to the bike to get it ready for Flat Track? Is it the Desmo450 MX you use?
Vicky: Yes, we race the Ducati Desmo450 MX, which, as you can see, is an excellent bike, particularly for Flat Track! One thing that is excellent about Flat Track and makes it more accessible than some other disciplines is that, in very basic terms, all you need to do is adjust the stock suspension that comes on the bike and change the wheels and tyres… then you can go racing!
DH: The bike has obviously been great for you, with your riders sitting first and second in the World Championship. From a technical side, what makes the Ducati so good for Flat Track?
Vicky: I don’t want to give away all the secrets! But if you look at our bikes, they look almost identical to what you would see in a Ducati showroom. The Desmo450 MX really is fantastically versatile and very competitive straight out of the crate. We have worked hard on the fine details that make all the difference at World Championship level, and we have two excellent riders in Tim and Ashton. From a technical perspective, we work with Tomasin R&D, who are based near Verona in Italy. They are MX specialists; their boss, Enrico, is a genius, and they have been excellent. It really has been a whole team effort.
DH: How much has the factory helped in developing the bikes?
Vicky: We are very fortunate to have an excellent relationship with both Ducati UK and the factory in Bologna. Seeing how pleased and excited they are has really pushed us to keep working on those fine details, and we are focused on bringing the best possible results for Ducati.
DH: How much development has happened during the season? Is the bike Tim and Ashton are racing now significantly different from what you rolled out at round one?
Vicky: To the eye, they are very similar, but yes, a lot of development has been done as we have worked through the season.
DH: Have you been surprised by how well things have gone in your first season? What were your goals when you started the team?
Vicky: Surprised perhaps isn’t the correct term, as we put together what we felt was the best possible team we could in all areas, but we have definitely been pleased with the results and performances. We felt that we had two riders who could win races on any track, that we had a nice balance in the team and that if we focused on performance then we could run at the front.
DH: What are your long-term plans with Ducati and the team?
Vicky: We would like to establish ourselves and Ducati as a leading team in the World Championship and continue to perform at the highest level every time we go racing.
DH: Flat Track seems to be on the up both at World and UK level. Can you see that growth continuing?
Vicky: There’s no reason why not. Flat Track is one of the most accessible forms of motorcycle racing, and it really is great fun!
Ashton Boughen – From Motocross to Speedway to winning World Flat Track Rounds
While Tim Neave brought considerable Flat Track experience to the project, Ashton Boughen arrived via a very different route. The former motocross racer stepped away from Speedway last year, but it certainly didn’t mark the end of his time racing on the ovals. Boughen quickly adapted to the different demands of Flat Track and, in only his second race, took victory at the opening round of the FIM Flat Track World Championship.
Dirt Hub: Hey Ashton, having quit Speedway last year, did you think that was the end for you in terms of oval racing, or has Flat Track always been on your radar?
Ashton Boughen: No, I didn’t really know what I was going to do. It was never a plan, just like Speedway wasn’t. I just go with the flow and love riding bikes.
DH: Coming from a Motocross background and then having raced Speedway, how does Flat Track complement the skills you’ve developed from both?
Ashton: Riding Motocross and Speedway are two completely different worlds, and then switching to Flat Track, people may think I have an advantage from doing both, but yet again Flat Track is a completely different type of riding in itself.
DH: How does the Ducati compare to a Speedway bike?
Ashton: I don’t think you can really compare a Speedway bike to a Motocross bike. Everything is different about them, but at the end of the day they are just motorbikes with a throttle.
DH: You won the first round of the World Championship on the bike, so you must have got it dialled in pretty quickly. Why do you think the Ducati is such a good bike for Flat Track?
Ashton: Yes, I think I took to it pretty quick. In only my second race, I won the first round. It was amazing, and thanks to the team – they got the bike set up just right, and all I had to do was race. The Ducati maybe had too much power sometimes, so we have to tune it down, and that’s where we can make time, not just by the bike set-up, but by me riding it too.
DH: Are there any personal changes you’ve made to the bike to suit your riding style?
Ashton: I have made some changes after the last few rounds to suit me after some troubles I had, and it has worked. I won the last round and felt comfortable. I feel like we have set-ups now for most tracks, which is hugely important.
DH: How is it racing for such an iconic brand as Ducati and making history with the manufacturer’s first-ever Flat Track win?
Ashton: It’s amazing to achieve something like this for such a big name, especially in my first year. I surprised myself, and I think a lot of other people, and I will keep pushing with the team to reach the end goal.
DH: What does the future hold for you? Will we be seeing you racing a bit of Motocross on the Ducati?
Ashton: I never know what the future holds. I sort of live day by day and take it all in. I have no idea what I will be racing next year, but I’m focused on now and getting that World Championship. That’s all that matters.
Tim Neave – Experience, consistency and the World Championship lead
On the other side of the VRX Dirt Store awning is the experienced Tim Neave.
Already crowned British Flat Track Champion in 2026, Neave has combined speed with consistency to put himself at the head of the World Championship standings with three rounds remaining.
Dirt Hub: Hey Tim, how does it feel to be leading the World Championship? Did you think at the start of the season, with a new team and a new bike, that this was possible?
Tim Neave: It feels great to be leading the Championship, and I knew the bike would be good; it was just a question of how good. I have felt that I’ve been riding good for a few years now but just needed to put it together with the help of the right team and the right bike.
DH: Being the most experienced rider in the team, and with the team and bike both being new, have you taken on more of a development role this year?
Tim: Yes, I suppose I have led a few areas of the development, but we got it good pretty much straight away, and I haven’t changed much all year, only little tweaks.
DH: How was the Ducati on your first ride? Did the bike surprise you at all?
Tim: I could feel the potential in the bike from the first ride. We just had some refining to do to make it better for Flat Track.
DH: What’s the biggest improvement you’ve felt in the bike from the beginning of the season to where it is now?
Tim: Like, I said, we really haven’t made any drastic changes since the Championship kicked off. I think the biggest improvement has come from me, with racing regularly and being sharp, and using my experience to stay consistent and play the long game.
DH: You’ve also been crowned British Champion, so you’ve been racing domestically. What has been the reaction around the tracks when people see the Ducati?
Tim: People are always excited to see a new manufacturer join the grid, and with this being an all-new machine from Ducati, it has definitely turned some heads. There are a handful of riders already jumping ship and buying Ducatis ready for next season.
DH: You lead the championship over your teammate Ashton with three rounds to go. How has it been battling it out with your young teammate for the victories?
Tim: It’s been great. Having a fast teammate always brings the best out of you. I don’t think anybody expected him to be so fast right out of the blocks, so that’s a credit to him and the bike.
With three rounds remaining, the biggest prize is still very much up for grabs for the team and their riders, and the fact that Neave and Boughen occupy the top two positions means the VRX Dirt Store Ducati team has put itself in a fantastic position in its debut World Championship campaign.
Whatever happens in the closing rounds, it has already been an impressive first season for the team, and it has been great to see two British riders reaching the heights of the sport and gunning for world championship glory.
