Tests carried out by the European specialised motorcycle press, gathered at Spain’s Calafat GP circuit for the 2003 MasterBike Test Week, proved that a classic bike - the 2001 DUCATI 996 SPS - standard in all respects other than having been fitted with BST Carbon Fibre wheels, can beat the cream of all 2003 model sportsbikes!

Click here to see the test results by fastest lap time or here for results by top speed.

The Calafat MasterBike week is a unique motorcycle testing event which takes place in early springtime on the twisty Calafat GP standard circuit in the South of Spain, between Tarragona and Valencia, close to the Mediterranean shoreline. Attending each year are more than 40 press testers, motorcycle racers and/or specialised journalists from leading European sportsbike magazines, from Sweden to Portugal, having available for evaluation about 60 motorcycles from that model year, of all makes and models above 600 cc.

The week’s test program consists of every tester evaluating the bikes of their choice, both on open roads and on the Calafat circuit, the best lap times contributing to the final classification of each model. It was fully expected by most testers that the star of the show would be the newest Suzuki GSX-R 1000. This was in fact the case until a 2001 Ducati 996 SPS picked up the challenge and took the week’s pole position.

To ensure that the Calafat testing week is an independent environment, no lobbying and no manufacturer representatives are allowed to be present. The result - which surprised many - was that the Ducati, a standard bike in all other respects, when shod with BST Carbon Fibre Wheels, lowered its best lap time from 1:32.25 to 1:31.05 and increased its speed the end of the straight speed, from 234 to 238 Km/h. This deprived pole position from the 2003 Suzuki GSX-R 1000, which was credited with a best lap time of 1:31.28 and an impressive top speed of 252 Km/h. What is most remarkable, is that neither the 2003 GSX-R 1000, nor any other 2003 sportsbike present, from Aprilia to Yamaha, including some SBK/R derived models, were able to better the lap time of the Ducati 996 SPS fitted with BST wheels.