After stress testing the Desmo450 MX in the Finke Desert Race, Ducati Team Principal Brett Metcalfe prepares for the 2026 Australian Supercross Championship
When a group of anonymous executives claimed a major stake in the Victorian motorcycle market in December 2025, industry observers anticipated a lengthy period of quiet consolidation. So the announcement that the re-structured multi-franchise retail operation would be headlined as ‘Joe Rascal’ came as a complete surprise. As did the news that Aussie racer Archie McDonald had signed on to contest the 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
The revelation that Joe Rascal was also intending to enter a Ducati Desmo450 MX in the Australian Supercross Championship – appointing South Australian legend Brett ‘Metty’ Metcalfe as Team Principal – was equally unexpected. The fact that the lead-up campaign would include both the Finke and Hattah Desert races was astounding. AMCN caught up with Brett just before the commencement of the 2026 Supercross season in Townsville.
After 24 years of professional elite level competition, it’s easy to see why you were offered the position as Ducati Team Principal. But prepping a Desmo450 MX to contest Finke and Hattah must have come as a complete surprise.
It was all new to me. Then again, it was all new to Joe Rascal. But racing a Ducati across the Australian desert sure generated some publicity. Finke is a world-renowned standalone event and no other bike set-up comes close to what’s required. However, spending so much track time in the Finke whoops, it wasn’t difficult to establish some reference points that proved valuable in developing the 450 for Supercross.
What else did you learn from the experience?
Our biggest takeaway from Finke is that the Desmo450 powerplant is as tough as nails. We didn’t touch the engine and still clocked over 170km/h. The Ducati proved just as fast and reliable as the more established teams. It’s been encouraging to review the data and realise how much stronger our team will be in 2027.
But for now, you’re back in a zone that’s far more familiar.
Let’s just say I’m far more comfortable with Supercross and believe my skills will benefit the team as we shift into an arena where I have more experience, both as a competitor and team manager. I’m really hanging out to see the Joe Rascal Ducati perform under lights.
Ducati is already campaigning the Desmo450 with some success in the AMA Supermotocross Playoffs. Do you share any technical information with the Americans?
Most of the AMA venues are quite different to the layouts in Australia, so we design and test our own parts specifically to suit local conditions and the individual preferences of our riders Matt Moss and Dylan Wills.
Despite still recovering from injury at the time, Dylan finished top five in the 2025 AUSX Championship. Matt only made a single appearance, taking the hole shot and just missing out on a podium. Since then neither has had much opportunity to go racing. How’s the preparation for this year progressing?
We’ve just completed a solid week in the Hunter Valley testing some new parts with world-renowned technician Danny Apro and came away confident we’re on a winner. Matt and I go back more than a decade, so there’s a lot of trust and we know what each other is thinking. Dylan has a different riding style. But having developed the parts we need to make the Desmo a winner, being trackside helps me interpret how I can provide what Dylan needs to be comfortable.
Dylan is yet to turn 30 while Matt is 38 but you’re confident they can both cut it with the youngsters?
If we were talking motocross, I’d say definitely not. However, despite appearances, if you have the right mindset, the Supercross format can be far less demanding on the body. Sure, the injuries can be far worse if you get it wrong but in Supercross, experience, bike set-up and technique definitely come into the equation.
Archie McDonald’s victory in the inaugural Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup was a great win for Australia and a great inspiration for the team.
Keep in mind the Joe Rascal brand was established only last September. Everything you see and hear has been established in less than a year. We can only become stronger.
