Page 124 - FAST 2026 Calendar Yearbook

and Sprocket Bit. The bike had been built and tuned at Ducati AMS / Advanced
Motorsports in Dallas, TX.
On contacting the seller, I learned he was Michael Snoderly from Atlanta,
Georgia, and that he had some $40,000 invested in purchasing and building the bike
back in 2004, plus a $5,000 6-year storage bill from AMS!. Mike told me that once the
bike was complete, his US government job had transferred him to Europe, and he had
to put both this newly modified 998S and a new Ducati Desmosedici RR into storage
without having ridden either. When he finally returned back to the USA in 2012 the gov-
ernment Budget Sequester of 2013 left him without a job. Soon Michael had to sell off
his brand new, never have been ridden Ducati collection while looking for a new job.
I made Mike a stupid lowball offer for his beautiful new super trick 998S Limited
Edition and he accepted. A shipping company picked the bike up at Mike's house and
delivered it to my local dealer Pro Italia, Glendale, CA, where it was checked out,
including a good clean out of the fuel system, and installation of fresh new Pirelli tires.
I also added those beautiful NCR billet Titanium Adjustable and Folding Foot
Controls which are the same that as Chili used on his NCR race bike back in 2004.
This new 998S is so beautiful, at first I didn't want to even ride it, but what good
is a Ducati if it isn't ridden? Particularly, since this was possibly the world's finest 2nd
Generation. And if I keep the miles low, it shouldn’t devalue much, if any.
I've ridden it a few times on the twisty and high speed canyon roads of the Santa
Monica Mountains outside Los Angles and I do have to say, it is the best 2nd Generation
Ducati Superbike I've every ridden. The handling, particularly with the longer swingarm,
is simply unmatched, and the 999R engine is incredible with its broad torque and super
powerful power band right off idle. It is definitely a nicer bike overall in handling than
the bigger feeling 3rd and 4th Generation Ducati Superbikes.
Only the new 5th Generation Panigale 1199 handles better. But the Testastretta
999R motor with its awesome power band, is an even more enjoyable engine to ride on
the street and canyons than the new higher revving short stroke Superquadro found in
the new big displacement 1199 Superbike.
If you are a serious Ducati Superbike enthusiast, you need to have a 998S or
996R / 998R in your stable. In my opinion the 2nd Generation Ducati Superbike with
the 996R / 998R Testastretta deep sump engine is arguably among the best Super-
bikes of all time. And with a total of 6 World Superbike Crowns to its credit in the hands
of Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser and Troy Bayliss, its hard to argue with a record like that.
- Jim Gianatsis
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