Ducati & Senna Whats the connection

[Fast Cletus]

As I love to keep up with my history, especially Ducati.  What is the tie in with Ayrton Senna and Ducati?  I cant figure it out.  He was brazilain not italian, rode on 4 wheels not 2?  And then why are all senna bikes red?  I think when Ayrton died he was sponsored by rothmans not marlboro. so where does the red come in?
I love the senna bikes just curious of the story.

[teddy037.2]

iirc the ducati catalog had a blurb about the reason for the senna bikes...

but I don't have it on me right now, as it's at home.

the castiglionis had a relationship with senna before he died, and had planned to produce a special 916 with the proceeds going to his orphanage charity from memory.

the first series was a dark grey, with the red wheels and the lower fairing sections were matt black. they had a carbon airbox too from memory. basically a strada engine in an sp chassis, probably so they'd be able to sell normally in the usa, etc, as the sp wasn't homologated in many countries. came with carbon termis and chip in the crate.

second series ('97) was silver, like a later st2, maybe a bit more metal in it. don't recall now. still the red wheels, no carbon airbox. we had one customer very upset about that. same bike underneath.

third series (98, different decals, as per the picture) is nearly, but not quite black. same bike underneath.

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=6601&page=3

[JEFF_H]

Also an MV Senna when they moved on from ducati to mv



ducs that are grey with red wheels are often referred to as 'senna' even though they arent really

[abby normal]

he was a personal friend of the castiglionis who owned ducati under the cagiva umbrella.

[muskrat]

now that's a fine F4

[MadDuck]

I thought the Senna's had gray bodywork and red wheels?? Like Teddy said. I don't recall any red ones.

[teddy037.2]

could be that ducati just wanted to keep 'their' color on the bike as well, but in a less conspicuous manner.

the catalog basically says the same thing that brad black posted up on .ms

[derby]

could be that ducati just wanted to keep 'their' color on the bike as well, but in a less conspicuous manner.

iirc, senna picked the (initial) color scheme.

[teddy037.2]

iirc, senna picked the (initial) color scheme.

or that, too 

[junior varsity]

as above, senna is gray with hints o' red.  I suppose its a neat item, like the "L" version of 748's, etc, but for my money, i'd be a little more into an SPS.

[ScottRNelson]

I'm pretty sure that it was only the 916 in 96, 97, and 98 that was actually a "Senna" limited edition model.  And the first one in 96 was black.

I'll have to look up the exact details in Ian Falloon's Desmoquattro book if you need more details.

People have called any Ducati with dark grey paint and red wheels "Senna" editions, but they aren't.  When you say "Senna color scheme", people usually know what it means, though.

[corey]

there was no senna monster?

[ScottRNelson]

there was no senna monster?

People call the grey ones with red wheels "Senna", but Ducati didn't call it that.