"A Ducati has to be red - and bold!"

Nadine, you've just come back from Spain from the Monster ride presentation. Hand on heart: was it just work or a bit of a party too?

Nadine Wimmer: (laughs) It was the perfect mix! We had the great advantage that we had no embargo and were able to upload the dynamic recordings directly and take people with us one-to-one. That gave the whole thing a completely different dynamic. It was a real "production-on-the-fly".

Spain sounds like pure sunshine. Did the weather play along to really challenge the machine?

We actually had the perfect "bad luck package". On the first day it was dry, on the second we had rain. That's ideal for really being able to assess a bike. Even if we got wet. When the sun is shining, anyone can ride fast. But in the rain, you realise what the technology can really do.

And what can it do? Many purists are sceptical when there is too much electronics involved.

It can do an impressive amount! The new Ducati Monster is equipped with modern rider assistance systems such as cornering ABS, various riding modes and traction control as standard. Especially in the rain, you can see how well the electronics work and how much safety they provide. The Riding Mode Wet was specially developed for wet and slippery roads. (Here, Power Mode Low works with power limited to 95 hp, throttle response is particularly smooth and systems such as DTC, DWC, ABS and EBC intervene earlier to ensure maximum stability. Editor's note) Normally you ride like you're on eggshells in the wet, with almost no lean angle. With the Monster, you could ride almost as you normally would: no sliding, no skidding under braking - that gave me a lot of confidence. That's what impressed me the most.

It almost sounds as if the bike is thinking for you. Doesn't it lose a bit of the analogue feeling?

Not at all! It doesn't feel artificial. It just gives you back the room to manoeuvre. You used to be in a fixed position on the bike in the rain, almost frozen like a rabbit in front of a snake. Just don't make any wrong moves. Now you can actively work with your body, do impulse exercises and really ride the bend instead of just surviving it. This clears your head for the fun of riding again.

You know the old Monster models very well. Where do you see the noticeable difference in the new one?

It's mainly the weight. The previous model weighed around 180 kilos, the new one is 175. The horsepower has remained the same, but with five kilograms less, the so-called power-to-weight ratio of a motorbike naturally changes. This new lightness in combination with the improved ergonomics is amazing. Especially for a naked bike. You gain agility with every kilo less.

Your first bike was a naked bike and you rode almost exclusively naked bikes for a long time. What fascinates you so much about this concept?

A Panigale is a statement, a real aerodynamically optimised battle cry from a bike. But a naked is bold. You can see the technology, everything is open. I always say: anyone can clean a Panigale (laughs). With the Monster, you can see the heart of the bike, the technology, the frame, the cables. It's also the perfect all-round bike. You can race over the mountain pass, work with your body, but it also works in everyday life or on the motorway. Its low weight makes it an absolute dream bike, especially for petite women.

The Monster has a long history. If you think back to when you were 16, how did you perceive the Ducati Monster back then?

The Monster is a legend. And for me, with its history, it is probably the quintessential Italian Ducati. In keeping with Italian design culture, it was designed using existing ingredients. Back then, more than 30 years ago, Ducati invoked the simple formula: Everything that counts - nothing that is superfluous. The chassis derived from the superbike and an engine optimised for the road were the basic ingredients. This is how this reduced, pure, open look was created. It's like a Margherita pizza. You take what you have and create something new with it. You can't get more Italian than that.

Ducati now has a Factory Made department for extreme customisation for the Multistrada too. If that were also available for the Monster, would you let off steam with the colours or would you stay true to the classic?

That's difficult! For photos and videos, limited editions in Tiffany Blue or yellow are of course amazing. But in private? I'm old-fashioned in that respect. A Ducati has to be red - like a Ferrari. I might go for a tricolour seat or modify the exhaust system, because I like to go pretty wild. But at its core and at first glance, it has to retain its identity.

So will we soon be seeing you privately on a new Monster?

I'm actually thinking about that! Unfortunately, my old naked was a total write-off after I lent the bike to someone. I got everything back from the insurance company, but there's now a gap in the garage. And a red Monster would fill that gap damn well.

→ Ducati Monster 2026