Ducati is poised to unveil a possible new addition to its
Monster line. The Italian marque is teasing the new Monster at
www.monster.ducati.com, with an unveiling planned for October 20th in Malaysia. The debut corresponds with the penultimate round of the 2011 MotoGP championship in Sepang.
“Monster Mania is ready to invade all Asia. Are you ready?” That’s the Ducati PR tag line for the bike debut, which is slated to be revealed at a “Monster Party” in Kuala Lumpur. The special guest at the soiree will be none other than The Doctor himself, Valentino Rossi.
Ducati has already released some info on its 2012 model lineup, including the 848 Streetfighter and its flagship superbike the all-new 1199 Panigale. The Bologna-based firm typically waits for the
EICMA MIlan Bike Show to break cover on its new models (where the 1199 will get its full reveal). This leaves the Monster debut open to speculation, particularly considering the location of its debut.
The high-volume Asian motorcycle market is the largest in the world. While the majority of units are cheap, small-displacement motorcycles and scooters, demand for larger displacement luxury mounts continues to grow. In recent years, Ducati has expanded its presence in the region’s two largest markets. Ducati
opened its first store in China in 2009, and that same year
expanded into India with dealer floors in both Mumbai and Delhi. Both India and China purchase more than 10 million units annually.
Could Ducati be planning a smaller-displacement version of its popular Monster brand? Or is that red cover concealing something as thoroughly unexciting as a
decal special?
