Ducati Backs a New ISRL Franchise Led by Punit Balan and Pranav Bakre for Season 3

• The team will compete as PBG Ducati Racing in Season 3 of the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL).

• Ducati’s Desmo450 MX, unveiled in India at the Season 2 finale in Calicut, moves from display to start gate, joined by the new Desmo250 MX.

• Punit Balan’s multi-sport investment record meets Pranav Bakre’s Ducati and superbike-racing expertise at the helm of the franchise.

Pune : The new ISRL team, PBG Racing, led by sports entrepreneur Punit Balan, has joined hands with Ducati and motorsport specialist Pranav Bakre to create PBG Ducati Racing for Season 3 of the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL). With Ducati coming on board as the Principal Team Sponsor and Bakre joining as Co-Owner, the new partnership brings together PBG Racing’s multi-sport investment experience, Bakre’s deep expertise in superbike and performance motorsport, and Ducati’s globally celebrated racing pedigree. Ducati’s Desmo450 MX unveiled at ISRL Season 2 finale in Calicut and the all new Desmo250 MX will challenge the existing teams for competitive start gate in Season 3, marking a significant step in Ducati’s motorsport journey in India.

Together, the partners aim to build a competitive presence on the ISRL grid while connecting with established motorsport fans and introducing new audiences to Supercross. Ducati’s association adds a distinctive racing identity to the franchise with decades of MotoGP and World Superbike experience, along with its signature Desmodromic engineering. Its arrival, alongside other world class automotive brands, is set to raise the technical and competitive bar in ISRL Season 3, giving riders access to world-class machinery.

Punit Balan, Chairman and Managing Director, Punit Balan Group, and Co-Owner, PBG Ducati Racing, said: “We joined ISRL with a vision to build a franchise that reflects passion, performance and the spirit of Indian racing. Pranav joining me as co-owner and Ducati backing the team puts real substance behind that. Our focus is to build PBG Ducati Racing into a competitive franchise with a strong identity, back young sporting talent and give fans a team they can rally behind. We look forward to beginning this journey together in ISRL Season 3.”

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said: “We introduced Ducati’s offroad programme to India at the ISRL Season 2 finale in Calicut, and the response has been exceptional. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, Ducati is proud of the racing pedigree, off-road programme reaching millions across global markets, and now in India we have a great platform to express our capabilities and establish our leadership at a competitive grid. As Principal Team Sponsor, Ducati India is fully committed to this partnership and to inspiring a new generation of riders across the country in Season 3”

Pranav Bakre, Co-Owner, PBG Ducati Racing, said: “Races are generally decided long before the start gate drops, through preparation, machinery and the people behind every rider. That belief is at the heart of PBG Ducati Racing. Punit brings a proven record of building teams and backing sport, while together we share the passion to build a team that is ready to compete and win from the very first round. Ducati brings an extraordinary global motorsport legacy and engineering excellence to this partnership, and we are honoured to represent the brand on the ISRL grid.”

Eeshan Lokhande, Co-Founder and Director, ISRL, said: “Ducati unveiled its off-road programme in India at our Season 2 finale, and a year later, it is backing a team on our grid. ISRL represents a unique convergence of sport and industry, with the automotive sector investing directly in teams and competition. With 2 major manufacturers already backing teams, Ducati becomes the 3rd major automotive brand to join the grid. I am extremely pleased to see this growing commitment, and equally excited that young Indian riders are getting the opportunity to compete on internationally competitive machinery. PBG Ducati Racing is a strong addition to Season 3, and we look forward to what this partnership brings to the sport.”

India is one of the world’s largest automotive markets and the biggest for two-wheelers. Interest in performance motorcycles is growing, and off-road racing is growing with it. Brands are now launching off-road bikes for Indian riders, and race partnerships like this one show that investors are paying attention to the sport. ISRL gives teams, brands and fans a way to be part of that growth.

With its co-ownership structure and new identity in place, PBG Ducati Racing now turns its focus to preparations for ISRL Season 3. The team will look to build a strong connection with fans while contributing to the growth of Supercross in Pune and across India.

ABOUT THE PROMOTERS

Team Supercross India Pvt. Ltd. (SXI), the parent company of the Indian Supercross Racing League, is led by former international racers Veer Patel (two-time National Supercross Champion) and Eeshan Lokhande and Aashwin Lokhande. Backed by deep domain expertise and a shared vision for the sport, they have built ISRL as a scalable platform aimed at redefining Supercross racing in India and on the global stage.

ABOUT PUNIT BALAN GROUP

The Punit Balan Group (PBG) is a Pune-headquartered diversified business group with interests across real estate, entertainment, sports and philanthropy. Its sporting involvement spans cricket, chess, tennis, handball, table tennis, kho kho, badminton and arm wrestling through investments, sponsorships and franchise ownership. PBG supports grassroots and professional sport through athlete development and initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem.
ABOUT PRANAV BAKRE

Pranav Bakre is the owner of Legacy Motors, the Ducati dealership in Pune, and Co-Founder of the Indian Superbike League. An avid motorsports enthusiast, he brings together his involvement in the motorcycling business and passion for racing in his role as Co-Owner of PBG Ducati Racing.

ABOUT DUCATI

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