A Ducati Monster for charity

Article from http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/news/37-ultime-news/2886-una-ducati-monster-per-telethon.html

Thanks to the generosity of Ducati Motor Holding, one of the most famous Italian marques in the world, a "special" Ducati Monster 696 will be up for auction on eBay, starting on Thursday, February 10th.

The Ducati in question has been personalized by way of Valentino Rossi's signature on the fuel tank cover.

The signing took place at Sepang, during the first test session of the new year, and the event was captured in several photographs available on the Telethon website.

All proceeds from the auction will go directly to "Fondazione Telethon," an Italian charity dedicated to fighting genetic maladies.

Some technical notes about the Ducati Monster: launched in 1992, its design and character made it an instant icon and ushered in the rise of the "naked" category. In 2008 the Monster received a major re-design, and the 696 was presented with a more muscular and imposing look, which still maintaining the traditional characteristics of the model. With 80hp at 9000rpm, the motor has the highest specific output of any Ducatis air-cooled engine, while a weight of only 163kg makes it the lightest bike in its category. The chassis was inspired by the latest developments from Ducati Corse, and the engine features a new slipper clutch which drastically reduces lever effort, while also allowing for more aggressive riding. The braking comes from dual front discs, with the same dimensions as Ducati's sports models.

For the eBay auction of the Ducati Monster 696:http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170601614990&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT