From a press release issued by Ducati:

LORIS CAPIROSSI RECEIVES THE VERY FIRST MONSTER S4R



The first Monster S4R came off the assembly line today. Federico Minoli, Ducati’s President and CEO, personally presented it to Loris Capirossi.

Bologna, March 24th, 2003 – Today the first Monster S4R came off the assembly line. The Monster S4R is a new and fascinating “racing” evolution of the first mass-production “café racer”, the best-loved “naked” motorcycle in Italy and all over the world.

The Ducati Monster is a commercial success but also a social phenomenon: with 130,000 motorcycles sold over ten years (a record in sales as well as in appreciation) it is considered a landmark in motorcycle history.

Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., wanted to personally present the first Monster S4R – fresh from the assembly line in the Borgo Panigale factory – to Loris Capirossi, official rider in the Ducati Marlboro Team. The gift is meant as a sign of high esteem and recognition of the first success Capirossi achieved with the Desmosedici during the IRTA official tests in Barcelona last weekend, as well as to welcome Loris into the great Ducati family.

Together with the new SBK 996 engine (with 113 hp), the Monster S4R features several remarkable changes. Among those new features are the new single-sided rear swing arm, new high mufflers “two-into-one-into-two”, new Showa rear shock absorber and front fork and a new variable cross-section aluminum handlebar, not to mention several carbon components and a brand new
look.

The new Monster S4R will be available from dealers at the end of April, 2002.