Ducati Monster S4 challenge 2002.

In late 2001 Ducati UK and BMP announced their intention to run the premier support series for the British Superbike Championship in the 2002 season - the Ducati Monster S4 Challenge.

The Challenge commences at the first round of the British Superbike Championship (April 1st) with an entire grid of 916-engined Ducati S4's. All of the machines will be the same specification and prepared by the GSE Racing organisation on behalf of Ducati UK. The bikes will be enhanced by the fitment race type components including exhausts and weight saving carbon fibre parts.

Intended to be open to holders of Clubman and national (or equivalent) ACU licenses, participants will pay a set fee and in return receive a comprehensive package that effectively covers the cost of the seasons racing. Entrance fees and racing related insurance together with machine preparation; repairs and bike transportation will be included, as will consumables such as tyres, fuel and oil.

The biggest luxury of the championship is the format, which allows for participants to simply turn up and race, with keys being picked out of a hat prior to each race. This will provide a close, fair and exciting series and allow genuine talent to flourish.

Piero Guidi, Managing Director of Ducati UK commented, "I am especially proud of this championship as we have worked hard to make it a reality for the last two years. With it, we will combine our racing heritage with a lifestyle bike that changed the face of motorcycling. It is the UK's premier one make series, and follows a year where we produced our 100,000th Monster!"