Pune's Punit Balan and Pranav Bakre Form PBG Ducati Legacy Racing for ISRL Season 3

Ducati bikes on the start gate

The team will race Ducati's Desmo450 MX, which was unveiled in India at the ISRL Season 2 finale in Calicut, and the Desmo250 MX, which Ducati says will be unveiled soon. According to ISRL, Ducati is the third major automotive brand to back a team on the league's grid, after two other manufacturers.

What the partners said

Punit Balan, Chairman and Managing Director, Punit Balan Group, said the team wants to build a competitive franchise with a strong identity, back young sporting talent and give fans a team to cheer for.

Pranav Bakre said races are usually decided long before the start gate drops, through preparation, machinery and the people behind each rider, and that the team aims to be ready to win from the first round.

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said the response to Ducati's off-road programme since its India launch in Calicut has been very good. Ducati is marking its 100th year in 2026.

Eeshan Lokhande, Co-Founder and Director, ISRL, said young Indian riders are now getting the chance to race on internationally competitive machines.

About the team owners

The Punit Balan Group is a Pune-based business group with interests in real estate, entertainment, sports and social work. It already backs teams and players in cricket, chess, tennis, handball, table tennis, kho kho, badminton and arm wrestling. ISRL is run by Team Supercross India Pvt. Ltd., led by former racers Veer Patel, Eeshan Lokhande and Aashwin Lokhande.

The team says it will now prepare for Season 3 and work to grow Supercross in Pune and across India. More about the league is on indiansupercrossleague.com.