Joined Nov 2011
1K Posts | 996+
Northwest
In 1990, Ducati and Ayrton Senna crossed paths for the first time. Claudio Castiglioni, the owner of Ducati at the time and a devoted admirer of Senna's remarkable talent, presented Senna with a Ducati 851 SP.
As time went on, Senna and Ducati discovered their shared values. When Senna personally witnessed the new Ducati 916, he was captivated by it, sparking the idea of a collaborative project that would bring together the Ducati and Senna Brands. The Ducati 916 Senna was born with a livery handpicked by the Brazilian driver. The contrasting graphic of anthracite grey, matte black, and red became iconic in the years that followed. Ducati announced this limited special series of only 300 units in March 1994.
The tragic accident that claimed Ayrton Senna's life occurred a few months prior to the commencement of production for the Ducati 916 Senna. This event halted all operations related to Ayrton. However, after discussions between Ducati and Senna's family, it was decided to proceed with the project in Ayrton's memory. The official presentation took place at the 1994 Motor Show. The initial series quickly sold out, followed by two more series in 1997 and 1998, featuring colors chosen by Ayrton's brother, Leonardo Senna.
In 2014, Ducati resumed its collaboration with Senna Brands by releasing the 2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale S "Senna". This exclusive model, limited to 161 units, pays homage to Ayrton Senna and is specifically reserved for the Brazilian market. Collectors worldwide highly covet all Ducati Sennas.
