I love Ducati's black and red bikes, I don't really think there's a better combination of sexiness than Ducati and those colors.
Do the track day on the Monster.... all you need is a relatively sporty set of tires and the PPE. Nobody wrecks on their first day, you're still too nervous to push the bike to anywhere near its limits. For example, I didn't even start shifting until my third day.
To anyone else reading this and curious about a track day, DO IT! It's literally the most fun, addicting thing I've ever done, and that feeling is universally shared by everyone who attends. It's safe - there is no gravel, curbs, telephone poles, buildings, cross traffic, or big SUVs waiting to pull out, every turn has a run off area and if worse comes to worst, there is always a paramedic or first responder on duty. The people are amazingly helpful, polite and love newbies. It's one of the major fouls the AF does not push more, and ruins your desire to ride "assertively" on the street.
WRT a track bike, check out your local racing forum (CMRA, NESBA, WERAclassifieds.com) and you'll see some amazing deals eg https://weraclassifie.../07-gsxr-600-3/ or https://www.cmraracin...k-Bike-3-800-00