THE times clocked by the 999s in its classification in the hands of different riders is comparable to those in the superbikes category such is the excellence of a fantastic motor and cycle package. And this beautiful Ducati adapts itself perfectly to the characteristics of a circuit like this on in Valencia. Its entry into a corner is very swift, so much so that it compensates while moving on to the outside where it uses the least power. The excellent ergonomics of the body hugging fuel tank and with the rear end quite low, makes you almost feel like a part of the bike. Also it is one of the few bikes in this Master Bike in which is impossible to scrape the floor no matter how far you lean it over. The aerodynamic protection could be better, because you have to move a lot over the tank to stay covered. But then it aerodynamic efficiency wouldn’t be that good.
The twin-cylinder Testastretta is a marvelous piece of engineering, so much so that the engine does not feel like it’s running, with an abject lack of high rev vibes. It is also perfectly mated to the cycle parts, resulting in a bike that is easy to handle and quick to hustle. It is true that like Aprilia you need more effort to move the Ducati but it also compensates with a racing bike feel that is quite superior to that of the Japanese bikes.
It has very distinct character similar to the Aprilia though better than the MV Augustia.