The tasks to build a bike that combined the styling clues from a Testarossa and the proven performance attributes of a Ducati 996 would provide appeal aplenty to aficionados of both tow and four wheeled Italian stallions.

The challenging task was largely handled by T&L's Steve Tesini, a biker with 28 years experience of customizing and restoration work on his favoured mode of transportation. The final product is an unmistakeble show stopper that displays the auxiliary lighting and custom billet parts that are T&L's stock and trade.

Initially, an aftermarker Daytec frame was procured and duly modified by way of removing the stock steering head in favour of a custom machined counterpart with aluminium triple clamps and 38 degree rake. Lengthening the backbone, plus raising and lengthening the rear dog leg, offers clearance on the repositioned DOHC motor, while internally routing the braided stainless steel clutch and brake lines ensures that the bike's clean lines are not unnecessarily cluttered by extraneous hardware

The instrument panel, airbox and water tank were hand fabricated using aluminium, and a Fat Katz 5-gallon gas tank was stretched 6 inches by Steve in order to accommodate an electric fuel pump. Te front fairing and side panels were formed from glass fibre and the fenders were hammered into shape from from sheet metal. Lightning components were supplied by T&L, as were the novel rear axle spinners that mount to familiar yellow automotive logos. Steve custom crafted the handlebars, seat pan and pseudo Testarossa strakes, as well as painting some of the finished components. Application of the immediately recognisable Rosso Red polyurethane was primarily handled by Fort Lauderdale's Fred Wise, with Creative Trim's John Pellicon being called upon to exercise his expertise in crafting a comfortable bum perch using tan leather.

Other custom touches include a stainless steel exhaust system that uses one half of a Magnaflow dual automotive set up, polished road wheels and Brembo brake calipers. Attention to detail has, of course, been paramount, even extending to the use of an ignition key bearing, - what else? - a Ferarri Fob.

Thunder & Lightning proprietor Jim Barry has seen the bike turns plenty of heads in the Sunshine State, so heaven knows what consternation it might cause being ridden along Italy's autostrada.