Pune: Punit Balan, Pranav Bakre Join Hands With Ducati for ISRL Season 3

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi & Rishi Sahu

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi and Rishi Sahu
Pune, 28th October 2026: Sports entrepreneur Punit Balan and motorsport specialist Pranav Bakre have partnered with Ducati to launch PBG Ducati Legacy Racing, a new franchise set to compete in Season 3 of the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL).

The partnership brings together the Punit Balan Group’s experience in sports investments, Bakre’s expertise in superbikes and performance motorsport, and Ducati’s international racing heritage. Bakre joins the franchise as co-owner, while Ducati will bring its off-road motorcycles to the competition.

Ducati’s Desmo450 MX, unveiled in India at the ISRL Season 2 finale in Calicut, is set to make its competitive debut in the league in the upcoming season. It will be joined by the soon-to-be-unveiled Desmo250 MX, marking another step in the Italian motorcycle manufacturer’s off-road motorsport journey in India.

The new franchise aims to establish a competitive presence on the ISRL grid, strengthen its connection with existing motorsport enthusiasts and introduce supercross racing to new audiences. Ducati’s participation is also expected to add to the league’s technical and competitive depth.

Punit Balan, chairman and managing director of the Punit Balan Group and co-owner of PBG Ducati Legacy Racing, said the partnership would help build a competitive team while supporting emerging sporting talent.

“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 Legacy 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,” Balan said.

Bipul Chandra, managing director of Ducati India, said the company had received an encouraging response after introducing its off-road programme in India at the previous season’s finale in Calicut.

“We introduced Ducati’s off-road 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 its racing pedigree and its off-road programme, which reaches millions across global markets. India now offers a great platform to demonstrate our capabilities and establish our leadership on a competitive grid. As an OEM, Ducati India is fully committed to this partnership and to inspiring a new generation of riders across the country in Season 3,” Chandra said.

Pranav Bakre, co-owner of PBG Ducati Legacy Racing, emphasised the importance of preparation, machinery and team-building in motorsport.

“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 Legacy 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,” Bakre said.

Eeshan Lokhande, co-founder and director of ISRL, said Ducati’s entry as a team partner reflected growing involvement by automotive manufacturers in competitive motorsport in India.

“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 through its official dealership. ISRL represents a unique convergence of sport and industry, with the automotive sector investing directly in teams and competition. With two major manufacturers already backing teams, Ducati becomes the third major automotive brand to participate on 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 Legacy Racing is a strong addition to Season 3, and we look forward to what this partnership brings to the sport,” Lokhande said.

India, one of the world’s largest automotive markets and the largest market for two-wheelers, has witnessed growing interest in performance motorcycles and off-road riding. The entry of manufacturers and investors into supercross racing reflects the sport’s potential to attract new participants, audiences and commercial partnerships.

ISRL provides a platform for teams, manufacturers and fans to contribute to the development of supercross racing in the country. With its co-ownership structure and new identity in place, PBG Ducati Legacy Racing will focus on preparations for Season 3, with an emphasis on competitiveness, rider development and fan engagement.

The league is promoted by Team Supercross India Pvt. Ltd. (SXI), led by former international racers Veer Patel, a two-time National Supercross Champion, and Eeshan and Aashwin Lokhande.

The Pune-headquartered Punit Balan Group has interests in real estate, entertainment, sports and philanthropy. Its investments and sponsorships span cricket, chess, tennis, handball, table tennis, kho kho, badminton and arm wrestling.

Bakre owns Legacy Motors, Ducati’s dealership in Pune, and is the co-founder of the Indian Superbike League. His involvement in the motorcycling business and passion for racing are expected to contribute to his role in the new franchise.