Two days later and the optimate lights are indicating that the battery is currently holding a weak charge.

Does anyone have any idea what would have caused the battery terminal connections to get really hot when turning-over to start?

maybe the 100 Amphrnjump battery of your car lol

No, the battery connections were getting red hot when I started it normally - this was before the battery ran out of power and I tried jump starting it!

I've been in touch with the people I bought the battery from and it has got to go back to them for a possible warranty claim.
In the meantime is there anyone in the Taunton area with a 996 who would let me borrow their battery briefly to see if my bike will start on it?

A bad connection causes resistance, and resistance causes heat.
Yes, that simple.
A bad connection to the battery will also cause a charger to cook a battery, as it never gets to see the real voltage reading.

Usually the earth connection actually, and I've moaned about this prob before.
If you have some right-angle metal connectors on either end of the battery, they are usually the problem - the fixings that stick out 'fore and aft' are just splined into the body of the bracket, and if you try to tighten them up, the connection actually gets worse. The simplest fix is to solder them up on the backs.

btw
I never leave anything permanently connected to a charger myself, even a good one can cook a battery.
You'rre not believeing everything the advertising says are you ;)

Sound advice and works for me.

Just went out to the garage to take the battery off. The Optimate was showing that the battery was holding a weak charge so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it one last try.

Bu**er me if the thing didn't start first time!

Theres nowt so mysterious as Ducati electrics!

Well now you've got it going, check those meter readings to make sure the rectifer output is OK.

I suspect you'd still be better off with a new battery anyway, though.

Hi ditto what moto748 says, as i said before my mates 916 (996) sps ran after jumping the fcucker!... but 108 miles later we were at the side of the M5 waiting for the breakdown waggon!!!!! he ended up needing a new battery and a new reg/rec!
Steve
P.S odessey say don't trickle charge, but disconnect the earth lead, then it should hold it's charge in cold weather......if it was well charged before hand.