3) A bit of background

I'm the handsome fella on the far right

I've been into bikes all my adult life, and, back in the day, in my mid 20's, I worked for John Britten on the V-1000 bike project, doing everything from managing travel arrangements to corresponding with prospective Britten buyers to design proposals for a V-1000 roadbike. 

After having owned a few interesting Jap bikes including a VFR750F and a ZZ-R1100, around the same time I started getting into Ducatis, starting with the resurrection of a couple of written-off 750 Pasos. You could say I'm a sucker for punishment.  And that I had the worlds best mentor for Motorcycle DIY inspiration.