Bumped into you down at Nagaro at the start of the year with guys from Jersey.
Intresting to hear about the race kit, my bike has had it fitted along with with some other tasty parts and is up at John's waiting for an ECU that works (One which came with the kit was u/s).
Had a few snags with the clutch, as per Jon Jury's article in TWO, ducati are replacing the base plate on the origional but have since replaced it anyway with a titanium bucci one.
In the UK this week and so might pop up to JHP for a coffee if time allows,
Bump into you again some time.
Pete
PS. Would agree the 749/999 makes you look good but doesn't require the skill of the 998 etc.
Well I don't know about the old wifw analagies but I think the R is the mutts nutts, it's poised and tighter than a tit mouses ear :P
Having ehum "Ridden both hard" the developement that has clearly go into the "Next Generation" is very evident right from the get go, the dash board very spacy and clear to read. Ergenomics of seat ,bars ect spot on. My wrists always ached after a while on the 996 (a bit cramped me thinks) but on the R their fine and a dandy! (Mav don't start on the "Wrists" thing alright!)