Ducati Announces Limited-Edition Monster Senna
Best known for his masterful driving behind the wheel of Formula 1 race cars—and that one video where he drives the wheels off an NSX in loafers—the late Ayrton Senna is a legend. People with stories like his get special editions named after them, and sometimes those special editions seem to make little sense. The limited-edition Ducati Monster Senna is one such example, but if you are questioning why anyone would name a motorcycle after a Formula 1 driver, I’m here to explain.
Ayrton Senna might not be a household name, but in the car community he is dang close. Between the his personality and his tendency to end up on the top step of the podium, he quickly attracted a fanbase. This was an era before social media and breathless press coverage, which meant Senna could still unwind a bit on the weekends and between race seasons. What does a guy who drivers really fast for a living do for a thrill? He rides motorcycles, of course.
And Senna’s motorcycle of choice was Ducati, though his hand was helped in selection when Claudio Castiglioni, then owner of Ducati and a fan of Senna, gave the three-time world champion a Ducati 851 SP. Senna also bopped around Monte Carlo on a Monster 900 in the early 1990s, even using the bike to arrive at the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix. The Monster likely appealed to Senna for its connection and feel. A sharp chassis, a punchy powerplant, and simple styling are hallmarks of the Monster lineup, and the new Senna edition captures all of that but blends in a heavy dose of the Brazilian driver’s color pallette.
The base for this special edition is the 2024 Monster, which features the 937cc Testastretta V-twin engine that makes 111 hp and 69 lb-ft and sounds great doing it, thanks to a set of Termignoni mufflers. The front forks, rear shock, and steering damper are all courtesy of Öhlins and keep things under control. The forged aluminum wheels help trim weight, and the Senna edition is nearly 10 pounds less than the standard model.
The Monster Senna’s performance might be close to the standard model, but the aesthetics are a pretty radical departure. The colors are pulled directly from the Brazilian flag, which was the heart of Senna’s signature yellow, green, and blue helmet. The black rims are specially made for this model, as are the yellow Brembo brake calipers. Other distinctive elements are the special seat, the matching engine guard, and the dedicated dashboard animation, which starts when the ignition is turned on.
This isn’t the first time Ducati has put the Senna name on a Ducati. Just weeks before a special-edition 916 was set to debut in 1994, however, Senna lost his life at the San Marino Grand Prix at Iola. Ducati leadership consulted Senna’s family and collectively decided to go ahead with the release. Ducati revived the special edition in 1997 and ’98, and then again in 2014, on the 1199 Panigale model. Like all of the previous models bearing the Senna name, this new Monster is limited and likely to go fast. Only 341 of the 2024 Monster Sennas will be produced, and they are set to debut this weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
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