It doesn’t sound like a ducati because you don’t drive it like you should drive a ducati ...FAST. I had one and it was a great bike. I never liked the small decals “996”on the fairings. On the 998 they fill more with ducati on it as well and it suit the flush fairing more. It is my least favorite the 9 series,like the early 916 and 998 the most. Had/have 916/998 but never the 996 because i did not liked it much. But whatever he buys he will like it or not if it was build by luigi on a monday. Henk!!!
I'm saying 998 cos I've got one. Other than that the testastretta engine has got to be the better option with fewer issues. £10K should get you a good base 998.
While there seems to be less of them available online, then an unmolested 998 should be easier to find. I'm not up to speed on UK rules, but classic racing in Scandinavia only allows pre testastretta engines. With this in mind, there can be a lot of well ragged 996 bikes which suddenly have their lightly used street bodywork refitted at selling time.
I think I may have this upside down.... The 998 uses a testastretta therefore couldn't race in that class?
Aye fella, so in scandiland maybe half of the 996s changing hands have been raced. 998 bikes weren't as easy to find, but when you did, they usually had a better real history.