What do you give your loving mom for a present? Flowers, chocolates, a Hermes scarf, a Prada handbag, nah, you give her Ducati Monster 696.

That’s what Valentino Rossi decided to give his mom Stefania Palma who has always wanted one, “I’ve dreamed of it all my life and now finally I have it,” said Stefy, as everyone in the MotoGP paddock calls her. “I told him over the years that if you ever go to Ducati, then you’ve got to get me a Ducati Monster.”

The model naturally is the Rossi MotoGP Replica Monster 696 with Rossi’s yellow race #46 on the side of the gas tank . “I used to have a Yamaha scooter,” said Rossi’s mom “but riding a bike with gears is completely a different emotion .. I’ve already gone from Tavullia to San Giovanni in Marignano, I’d like to try the Panoramica (anyone who has read Valentino Rossi’s autobiography knows all about that special road), but for a woman of my age. “

Rossi’s mom also denied that she’s going to become a grandmother, “We talked about this rumor at Mugello and wondered how these stories surface, since it’s not true, “ and regarding Valentino’s problems with the Ducati, she said, “I told Valentino that I think that life isn’t always like a movie, and to get what you desire for you have to fight for it: he and Ducati are very attentive regarding the problems.”

Source | ilresto delcarlino.it via motoblog.it

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To help the Telethon Foundation in its research in the diagnosis, prevention and cure of human genetic diseases, Ducati has donated this special Monster 696 with its tank personally autographed by Valentino Rossi, during the Sepang MotoGP test last week.

The red Monster is currently being auctioned on e-Bay and bidding is currently at € 5.000 with six days left in the auction.

While we’re at it, could someone explain why Rossi’s left forearm is only partially shaved?

Source | motoblog.it

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French website Moto Station are reporting that Ducati will be launching the Ducati Hypermotard 796.

This new entry level Hypermotard will be less intimidating and more economical than the 1100 maxi motard version and supposedly the new 796 will have something between the 80hp of the Monster 696 and the 90hp of the 1100, with standard Brembo radial brakes, instead of the more uperclass Brembo monoblocs, conventional mirrors instead of those nifty, but troublesome folding ones that are on the Ducati Hypermotard 1100.

Stay tuned to see for more news.

Updated:
According to our Italian cousins at Motoblog, the new Ducati 796 will be officially unveiled at the EICMA 2009 show in November.

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Ducati is calling it their new Colour Therapy, it’ s the Kit Monster Art (consisting of tank mudguard, micro bikini fairing and seat covers) to allow new Ducati Monster (696 and 1100) buyers to dress their bikes in 10 brand new colours that range from Rosso (red) GP, Arancione (orange) Scrambler to Lilac Glamour and Pure Gold.

Using their configurator you can try the colours and find the best livery to suit your taste and order the Kit Monster Art from any Ducati dealer for only 90 Euros more, except for Pure Gold and Quick Silver liveries that cost 190 Euros.

If you already a proud owner of a Monster 696 or a 1100, you can still order your Kit Monster Art, but the cost is 499 Euro and 599 Euros for the Pure Gold and QuickSilver colours.

These new colours will be for a limited time only as the Monster Art project will update their colour range and graphics regularly.

Ducati Monster Colour Therapy

Continue reading: Ducati Monster Colour Therapy

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While this looks like a new commercial for the Ducati Monster 696 which also features Dainese leathers and helmets, officially its the video clip accompanying the song Tutto l’Universo Obbedisce all’Amore (All the Universe Obeys to Love) by Italian songwriter and singer Franco Battiato featuring Carmen Consoli which was released on his new album Fleurs 2 last November .

Thanks to KirkMichael for the tip.

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This tribute to SBK world champion Troy Bayliss shows a Monster 696 Bayliss Tribute created by the Ducati Florence dealership, in collaboration with Masini Design. Check out the nice paint job on the Ducati naked below.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

Continue reading: Pic of the day: Ducati Monster 696 Bayliss Tribute

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“Ducati likes to win every Championship”, said Micha de Vries, Ducati North Europe’s Chief Operating Officer at the EICMA in Milan to Twowheelsblog.

Micha De Vries told about the new vision, the new logo and the new models. He said: “Our vision is to bring Italian design, quality and the best bikes. We want to stand for client friendly”. And more : “We are World Champion in Superbike, European Superstock 1000, second in MotoGP. We bring all our new models in a very short time, I think, if this was also a World Championship we won it also. Our new logo will stand for a heart and the curve of the road or racetrack. It means to be the heart of Ducati.

“It’s a new vision, it started a year ago and today we can see that it works. We will go for it, today with the Ducati Streetfighter and the new Ducati 1198, and with our 848, our new Monster”.

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The MOB, or the Belgian Monster Owners Club attempted a new World Record and is proud to be published in the Guinness Book as “Largest Parade of Motorcycles of the Same Brand and Type Record”. It all happened last Sunday, September 21st in a small town in Belgium called “Hamme-Moerzeke”. The group of 405 Ducati Monsters started their engines and rode around the town. The parade was almost 200 bikes longer than the record set in 2003 with 207 examples of the Yamaha TDM model.

The Belgian Monster Owners Club, an official Ducati Owners Club was celebrating it’s 5th anniversary this year.

Source | Ducati

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SC Project has presented a wide range of exhausts for the new Ducati Monster 696 with a complete line that should satisfay all owners of the Italian naked bike. Models include the sporty Gp and Gp Evo short to the brand short oval terminal with carbon heads and stainless steel black, titanium or carbon.

All the silencers in the range have been made from titanium or carbon with light stainless steel and TIG materials, and can be used on the road with DB Killer installed (which can also be found as a removable part).

Riding feel and handling has been improved with the lighter weight at more than 3.5 kg. Increased performance and sound racing are guaranteed, along with a design that won’t wreck the look of your Bolognan naked. Prices are from 540 euros for the GP version with DB Killer. For more information go to the official site at www.sc-project.com.

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After the news about a possible new Ducati model, the Ducati Hyperfighter in 2009, again news about Ducati.

Will be the new Monster 696 line upgraded? The new Ducati Monster is really looking very well and is the most sold bike in Italy in the month of June. This new Monster will be the start from a complete new gamma and will replace the older model after a huge success. Tradionally in the Italian house after the outcome of a new model, their will be an upgrading from different engines on the market, like the Monster S2R 800, S2R 1000,…
The Spanish Motociclismo designed their own idea for a newcomer, the Ducati Monster 1098. When you have a proper look at the bike, you will see the name “fighter” appears also on the bike!

Via |Motorfreaks

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Think women don’t anything about motorcycles? Check out this funny video of the Ducati Monster 696 and you might change you’re mind. After the jump…

Continue reading: Monster 696: women always choose the best

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On Sunday 21 september the MOB, the Monster Owners Belgium (Ducati Owners Club) wants to aim for a new world record: they want to bring together the largest number of Ducati Monsters and set the new world record in their name.

At present the only record of this type in the Guiness Book of World Records for one type of one brand has been put down by Yamaha with the TDM (206 bikes).

The benefits of this day will go to the organisation called “Zebra”. Zebra, is a non-profit organisation helping children that are involved in traffic accidents, eigther having been injured in the accident or having lost a loved one.

Via | MOB

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