Ayrton Senna commemorative super-bike

To mark the 20th anniversary of F1 racing driver Ayrton Senna’s death next year, Ducati Motor Holding is to produce a limited-edition super-bike. The Italian motorcycle company had a strong relationship with the Brazilian three-time winner of the Drivers’ World Championship, who last visited its factory just a few weeks before his fatal race at Imola.

Back in 1995, Bologna-based Ducati offered a special version of the 916SP super-bike, featuring the colour scheme that Senna picked for his personal bike; just 300 were made. It then made more limited-edition Senna motorbikes in 1997 and 1998. With the full support of the Senna Foundation, the 2014 Ducati 1199 Panigale S Senna will be produced in a limited edition of 161 — to commemorate the number of F1 races that Senna participated in.

The new super-bike, a model of which was on display at the Sao Paolo Motorcycle Show earlier this month, will sport the special-edition Senna colours (grey body over red wheels) and will include a sport exhaust. All 161 units will be sold exclusively in the Brazilian market, with proceeds going to help the Senna Foundation.