JPM gave me a tip to start it when it had those very same symptoms: put the bike in gear, roll it backwards or forwards so as you turn the crank a little (must get it past tdc or summat), then try starting.
Downside was that Jon then added "yeah I used to have to do that to mine, just before the battery ballooned up!"
A Ducati is just like a woman - you are better off with a slightly older one.
You let some other chap spend his time, effort and money sorting out all the problems of initial ownership, and then when he is skint, finally gives up and moves on you take over and at minimal cost end up with a really sorted one.
Oh how brave (stupid ) of me to put this gem into printed form.