Yes I’ve had one of these proud fellas as well. The Italian Stallion from the early 1990’s.

Mine was the full race 956cc Corsa version. The last of the line – I bought it from Tony Jeffries. His son – the late great David Jeffries had raced it for the 1994 British Superbike series – the year before the game-changing Ducati 916 appeared on the scene.
She came with the full race pack – four or five sets of bodywork – half a dozen lightweight wheels – two motors and a whole heap of bits and pieces.
The whole package cost me the bulk of my settlement from a recent expensive divorce but it was money well spent in my opinion – at the time.
I had one meeting out of her – but it was a good one – the Daytona 200 March 1995.
The new 916 arranged for a very young Neil Hodgson was late out of the blocks – still in the factory in fact.
Not the end of the world – for Neil rode my 956 Corsa instead – finishing 5th in the Battle of the Twins and a very creditable 12th in the Daytona 200 proper – his first international race on anything bigger than a 125,
With the benefit of hindsight would I change anything?
Not a bit of it! All costs had been paid – including flights for the team – hotels – air freight for my bike and entry fee – all done and dusted by the Race Organisers.
The icing on the cake was that on returning to the UK a buyer was found for my Ducati outfit at the same price I had shelled out for it only a few short months previous. A result!
Where else was I going to get that sort of experience – with a future World Champion at the start of his Superbike career – riding my bike in the Daytona 200.
It certainly helped me over the trauma and heartache that divorce can bring after 30 years of marriage. I could have been a sad fool and blown the lot in Vegas for I have little luck when it comes to cards.
Bikes are much safer – even if I did break my neck on one sixty years ago next Jan —
givit
Don
October 20, 2021 at 13:21
don.finnie@outlook.com will find me Javier .. sorry it’s taken so long –
aguilera1970
July 14, 2020 at 08:00
Don, it seems I do not have your correct email address.
Please drop me a line at aguilera1970@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you.
Sorry javier – I’ve been missing for a while.
Don
July 13, 2020 at 16:47
Javier I must admit I wasn’t a big fan of the 916 but Ducati had to change from that 956 Corsa. The original 888 had been bored out so much that the race motor was only rated for 500kms.
I had two motors for it and only ever had one complete at any one time. The swingarm pivoted on the back of the gearbox and the crankcases were known to crack in that area even first time out. A lovely bike but I was happy to see it go so quickly after the Daytona 200.
Does my heart good to hear from you my friend. If this bloody virus doesn’t get us I’m thinking Helen and I could easily reach Barcelona next year on the X-ADV. She’s a little belter on the twisties and she cruised nicely on the motorway when we tried it on the way back from Knockhill Race Circuit t’other day.
Keep in touch bro’ – Don x
aguilera1970
July 13, 2020 at 09:57
One of my all time favourite bikes my dear friend….