Ducati Honors Ayrton Senna with Special Monster Motorcycle

Ayrton Senna wasn't just a fan of fast race cars. On the contrary, Senna was a passionate motorcyclist, with a particular affinity for his Ducati 851 SPK. Riding around Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Monaco, Senna was spotting on two-wheels regularly, most often on a Ducati of some sort.

Now, 30 years on from his death, Ducati is commemorating the Brazilian legend with a bike of his own, known as the Monster Senna special edition. Based on the 937cc, Testastretta-engined Monster, the Monster Senna is largely a visual package slapped onto the tank and seat of the bike. Painted in a special livery inspired by the color of the helmet he wore throughout his career, the scheme also features hues of yellow, green, and blue as a nod to the Brazilian flag.

With 111 hp from its twin-cylinder engine, fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, and Brembo Stylema braking hardware, the Ducati Monster Senna will be true to performance form. Visually, the forged wheels and brake calipers will show hints of yellow and green while the special seat comes with a model-specific blue hue. The Monster Senna is also 10 pounds lighter than the standard Ducati Monster, weighing in at 385 pounds without fuel.

Only 341 units will be made and each one will feature a plaque on the triple clamp with the model name and number of the bike, plus a dedicated motorcycle cover. Other standard features include cornering adjustable ABS with three levels, a homologated Termignoni exhaust silencer, and a yellow engine guard.

Ducati's choice to make Senna's honorary bike from its classic naked bike frame is no mistake, either. When the original Monster 900 was launched in 1990, Senna was one of the very first owners. An infamous photo of the racer shows him rolling around in a tuxedo, half-shell helmet, and with no gloves on a red Monster 900. Around that same time in 1990, Senna was gifted the previously mentioned Ducati 851 SPK by the owner of Ducati, Claudio Castiglioni.

Later on, when the groundbreaking Ducati 916 was released, Senna was so enamored by the bike that he and the motorcycle company teamed up to build a special edition bike called the 916 Senna. With a contrasting anthracite grey, matt black, and red livery, only 300 units were made. Sadly, Senna was killed at Imola a few months before the start of production. A limited edition run of 1199 Panigale sport bikes under the racer's name was also released in 2014, totaling out to 161 units sold in the Brazilian market.

Ducati has yet to reveal pricing details for the Monster Senna special edition. Initially unveiled at the paddock of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack at Imola, the official reveal of the motorcycle is set for the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Imola on Sunday, May 19.

"Senna was one of the very first owners of the Monster 900 and perfectly represented the values of this bike: style, boldness, and fun," said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Motor Holding CEO. "The Monster Senna demonstrates how honored we are to define a champion of this incredible level as a true Ducatista."

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