Image: Octopi Media.

A P7 result on return to competition in Detroit signalled another season-best for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati and Dylan Ferrandis, continuing to impress after spending the past three rounds on the bench.

Ferrandis, 31, had been absent from the 450SX series since injuring his thumb at Daytona’s eighth round, with the Frenchman focusing on rehabilitation despite no fractures or ligament damage.

The former two-time 250SX West and 450MX champion set the 10th fastest qualifying time, finished sixth in his heat race, and then completed lap one of the main event in sixth. A measured ride aboard his Desmo450 MX followed, with seventh marking their best of the year.

“I am happy for the team and all the sponsors – TLD Red Bull Ducati – and everybody on the
team, so that feels good,” said Ferrandis. “I got a good start, but I was lacking a little bit of
pace, for sure. I can do better than what I did tonight, but I need to get back into that racing
mode a little more.

“Overall, I think it’s the best I could have done today with a seventh. I showed that during my time off, I didn’t just chill, I was pushing and training. So I’m happy about that and happy for the team.”

The 2026 season has been a mixed one for the factory Ducati organization, with Justin Barcia sidelined since the Anaheim opener in January through injury, while Ferrandis has recorded six top-10 finishes this year, as the brand continues to build in its maiden Monster Energy Supercross campaign.