On the Ducati website now are the official Tricolore pics. Much better under proper studio lights but still going to go for the "S". Wheels look different to the "S" (no I dont mean the colour), ie the spokes.
Looks nice but whats with the chrome flash on the side of the tank ? looks very odd
Possibly a cue taken from the race bikes of the 70's?? ... the fibreglass race tanks used to have an unpainted section on the side where the silver is on the 1098, this allowed you to see the fuel level through the side of the tank & acted as simple fuel gauge.
I just assumed it was a further attempt at retro-look, and thought the colour matched the colour used on the frame ? I don't just think it looks odd - it looks awful to me, spoils the other lines completely to my eye, but I'm not a brilliant young Italian designer....