MTS 950 exhaust mod and 14 tooth sprocket

While over at the NW200 recently (GO GLEN IRWIN!!) I visited Millsport the Ducati dealer in Ballymoney. They suggested a couple of mods for the 950 that they have been fitting. First was a 14 tooth front sprocket which makes it more tractable at lower speeds for the sacrifice of a few mph off the top end. Second was some device that holds a valve in the exhaust system open???

Anyone got any experience of either of these mods?