Jan, I only use my 1997 SS/SP at the track since I bought a 2007 ST3s. I had an MV Agusta F4-1000s that I rode at Miller and it kind of scared me; the power was hard to control, it was way heavier than the Ducati and too expensive to drop. I traded it in on the ST3s. As others have said, if the straights aren't too long, not much is better than a Supersport. Over the years I've modified mine to where it fits like a glove, handles superbly and pulls like a freight train!
Some stuff I did:
Wiseco FBF HC pistons, Keihin FCR 41 mm carbs, K&N filter and fully cut airbox, Hindle carbon fiber cans, Evoluzione clutch slave cylinder, Marvic magnesium wheels, Barnett clutch, Nichols aluminum rear rotor (for looks mainly...too soft to use much), Galfer green pads and Galfer brake lines, (stock awesome cast iron front rotors), DID chain w/39T aluminum rear sprocket (too low; it needs a 37), Penske rear shock, Superbike forks w/Goldvalves, Cyclecat top triple clamp and Cyclecat handlebars, Renthal grips, CR 1/2 fairings, lightweight battery, Dyna coils, SharkSkinz nose fairing, Woodcraft rearsets and brake and shift levers, NGK plug wires, added carbon, Sargent saddle, Pilot Power tires and removed all extra stuff. It weighs about 375 lbs without gas.