Photo: Ducati
Two-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier has received an exclusive Ducati 1199 Panigale S “Senna” as a token of cognizance for the second back-to-back victory he clinched behind the wheel of his Volkswagen Polo R WRC in 2014.
The bike was offered to Ogier in Borgo Panigale during a handling-over ceremony which had the Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, alongside the head of Ducati Corse Gigi Dall’Igna and his right hand, Paolo Ciabatti and Volkswagen Motorsport top-hat Jost Capito, and WRC team manager Sven Smeets.
Sebastien Ogier has always been a huge fan of the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna, and the fact that the bike presented to him by Ducati is a tribute to the Brazilian driver makes things even more rewarding. Ducati has an agreement with the Senna Foundation for making contributions to the charitable and educational aims of the latter.
Ducati initially manufactured 300 Senna tribute bikes in 1995, the famous grey, red-wheeled 916 SP, the 916 Senna I model. Two more series followed, the 916 Senna II and 916 Senna III, manufactured and sold in 1997 and 1998, respectively. The bikes in the three 916 Senna editions are exceedingly hard to come by as they are most valuable collectors’ items.
The Senna-themes Panigale 1199 S is a bike which was created especially for the Brazilian market and is therefore unavailable in other countries. Ogier’s machine was actually flown all the way from Brazil for the handling-over. The series comprises 161 bikes, with their number corresponding to the number of F1 races Senna took part in, with the numbering engraved on the top yoke.
Sebastien Ogier’s Ducati Panigale 1199 S “Senna” got the number 16 in memory of Senna’s debut F1 victory with John Player Special Lotus in 1985 in the Portuguese GP.
"For me, Ayrton Senna is the biggest hero in motorsport. He was my idol. My father was a big fan of Senna and, when I was a young boy, he took me to Monte Carlo to see him race. He was the best, he was fast in every car, and he would never give in. It would have been great to meet him and get to know him, but in any case, he remains a fine example in motorsport,” Ogier says.
“This Ducati 1199 Panigale "Senna" is a fantastic gift. I am very grateful to Volkswagen, both for the bike and for the importance it has for me, as I really admire Ayrton. The bike will for sure take pride of place in my home. They have done a fantastic job in Ducati. It is such a beautiful bike that it will almost be a shame to ride it on the road, so I will probably keep it in my living room! It is also nice that it has the number 16, in memory of his first win in Formula 1. It was in Portugal, where I scored the first WRC win of my career," added he upon receiving the bike.
The number of wheels seems to be a matter of secondary importance to some. We’ve seen 9-time world champion rider Valentino Rossi winning the Monza Rally Show on three occasions and numerous other rally drivers quite happy when riding motorcycles and learning about drivers who are into motorcycling is only making us happier. Oh, and by the way, Rossi has sworn he’d do his best to win his 4th Monza Rally Show title this weekend. Stay tuned!
Sebastien Ogier has always been a huge fan of the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna, and the fact that the bike presented to him by Ducati is a tribute to the Brazilian driver makes things even more rewarding. Ducati has an agreement with the Senna Foundation for making contributions to the charitable and educational aims of the latter.
Ayrton Senna himself chose the color of the bike
The Panigale 1199 S “Senna” is a very limited, special edition motorcycle and comes in a livery which was chosen especially by Senna himself during a visit at Ducati in 1994, only few weeks before the tragic race at Imola when he lost his life.Ducati initially manufactured 300 Senna tribute bikes in 1995, the famous grey, red-wheeled 916 SP, the 916 Senna I model. Two more series followed, the 916 Senna II and 916 Senna III, manufactured and sold in 1997 and 1998, respectively. The bikes in the three 916 Senna editions are exceedingly hard to come by as they are most valuable collectors’ items.
The Senna-themes Panigale 1199 S is a bike which was created especially for the Brazilian market and is therefore unavailable in other countries. Ogier’s machine was actually flown all the way from Brazil for the handling-over. The series comprises 161 bikes, with their number corresponding to the number of F1 races Senna took part in, with the numbering engraved on the top yoke.
Sebastien Ogier’s Ducati Panigale 1199 S “Senna” got the number 16 in memory of Senna’s debut F1 victory with John Player Special Lotus in 1985 in the Portuguese GP.
"For me, Ayrton Senna is the biggest hero in motorsport. He was my idol. My father was a big fan of Senna and, when I was a young boy, he took me to Monte Carlo to see him race. He was the best, he was fast in every car, and he would never give in. It would have been great to meet him and get to know him, but in any case, he remains a fine example in motorsport,” Ogier says.
“This Ducati 1199 Panigale "Senna" is a fantastic gift. I am very grateful to Volkswagen, both for the bike and for the importance it has for me, as I really admire Ayrton. The bike will for sure take pride of place in my home. They have done a fantastic job in Ducati. It is such a beautiful bike that it will almost be a shame to ride it on the road, so I will probably keep it in my living room! It is also nice that it has the number 16, in memory of his first win in Formula 1. It was in Portugal, where I scored the first WRC win of my career," added he upon receiving the bike.
Only one such bike auctioned in Europe, fiercely bid by Max Biaggi
Ducati agreed to sell one Panigale 1199 S “Senna” in Europe and it was auctioned by Sotheby’s this summer. Motorcycle racing star Max Biaggi and F1 driver Felipe Massa have battled hard during the auction but the Italian finally got the bike for €37,000 ($50,425). Biaggi said he would not ride it, but have it on display as homage to Senna.The number of wheels seems to be a matter of secondary importance to some. We’ve seen 9-time world champion rider Valentino Rossi winning the Monza Rally Show on three occasions and numerous other rally drivers quite happy when riding motorcycles and learning about drivers who are into motorcycling is only making us happier. Oh, and by the way, Rossi has sworn he’d do his best to win his 4th Monza Rally Show title this weekend. Stay tuned!
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