Page 28 - LHR Motorcycle Magazine August 2024

Ducati launch striking Monster

Senna tribute

Ducati Monster Senna fly
screen
To mark the 20th anniversary
of his death, Ducati then
produced 161 Panigale 1199
S Senna models in 2014 –
featuring a paint job to match
t h e o r i g i n a l n i n e t i e s
beauties. The new Monster
is the first special edition
tribute to break away from
that design.

Senna was a genuine Ducati
fan, having become close
f r i e n d s w i t h C l a u d i o
Castiglioni, the President of
Ducati at the time. In 1990,
he was gifted an 851 SP in
Ducati are paying tribute to three time Formula One recognition of his racing
world champion Ayrton Senna with a special edition achievements, and he also owned one of the first ever
version of their Monster naked, priced at £23,500. red Monster 900s launched in 1993.

Called the ‘Monster Senna’, it marks the 30th This year’s tribute was fittingly revealed to fans at the
anniversary of the racing driver’s death and is based Imola F1 Grand Prix – the circuit at which he was
on the existing 937cc V-twin machine that first arrived tragically killed in an accident 30 years ago.
back in 2021. It sports a striking yellow, green, and
blue livery inspired by Senna’s iconic racing helmet Sport seat finished in blue
design – itself a homage to the Brazilian flag. Alongside the vibrant bodywork, the 840mm riders’
seat is finished in a deep blue, with the radially
It will be limited to 341 units – with the ‘3’ representing mounted front Brembo brake calipers finished in
his titles in 1988, 1990, and 1991, plus the ‘41’ to yellow with black text. Small strips of yellow, blue, and
signify the number of times he stood on the top step of green, can also be found on the gloss black forged
an F1 podium. aluminium rims, as well as yellow banding on the twin
exit Termignoni end can.
Senna logos on Ducati Monster fuel tank
Each bike will feature a numbered plaque on the bars, Being a modern Ducati, you get lean sensitive
plus Senna logos on the 14 litre tank, and ‘racing is in electronics, with each bike also coming with a
my blood’ written across the rear. certificate of authenticity and a specialist bike cover.
There’s a fully adjustable Öhlins shock to the rear,
It’s not the first time Ducati have paid tribute to the F1 plus fully adjustable Öhlins NIX 30 front forks, too. A
legend either, launching a 916 Senna superbike in steering damper is also in place.LHR
1994 – with Ayrton himself choosing the understated
grey colour and striking red wheels, prior to his death
on May 1 of that year.

When it eventually went on sale later that following
winter, all 300 bikes sold almost immediately. A further
run of 300 were then again produced in 1997 and
1998.

Ducati