Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1164303
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DUCATI 916 P84 Feature MEDIUM RARE: THE 916 SENNA aesthetically styled by Massimo Tamburini at the Bol d'Or 24 Hour at Paul Ricard in France. It was ridden by riders Marco Lucchinelli, Juan Garriga and Virginio Ferrari. Using modified Pantah crankcases, the fuel-injected four-valve came in at 748cc but produced less than 100 horsepower, making it uncompetitive against the larger Japanese four-cylinder machines that dominated endur- ance racing. The machine failed to finish the Bol d'Or, retiring in the 15th hour with a broken con-rod bolt. Despite the inauspicious debut, Bordi could see the potential of the new motor in that superbike rules in Eu- rope and America allowed a 1000cc maximum displace- ment for V-twins, compared to the 750cc limit for fours. The next time the four-valve machine was seen in public it sported a capacity of 851cc and had 115 horse- power on tap, with Marco Lucchinelli going on to claim one of the most significant wins in Ducati's history at In March 1994, three-time World Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna visited the Ducati factory in Bologna and gave his permis- sion for a limited run of 916 models to use his name. Less than two months later, Senna died after a crash at the nearby Imola circuit; a tragedy that also put the production of the model in jeopardy until Senna's sister authorized the run to go ahead as a tribute to her late brother and with any profits going to the foundation that Senna had set up to aid underprivileged children in Brazil. The original Senna was a mixture of components from the two 916 models, the Strada (street) and the racing SP version. The color scheme was a distinctive gunmetal grey with red wheels with a single seat. The SP frame was used with an Ohlins rear suspension unit and some carbon fiber parts including the front mudguard, rear chain guard, clutch cover and exhaust pipe heat shield. Production was pegged at 301 individually numbered units for the 1995 year, and there were plans to produce an Mk2 version for 1996. These came unstuck early in that year when Senna's brother-in-law died while riding one of the original production run models. Subsequently, a second run was produced in 1997, and an Mk3 version the following year, both of which varied subtly from the original model. (Top to bottom) The father of the four- valve desmo, Massimo Bordo, with the first 916 motor. Check out all the factory race machines in the background! Massimo Tamburini—crafter of the 916 and known as the Michelangelo of Motorcycles.