Being a 2002 like mine, you shouldn't have any problems with flaking rockers. If you pick it up remember this bike has the different heads and needs the shorter S4/ST4 timing belts. The frame and wheels are correct in the bright silver for the MY.
2002 model with the later slabside fairings were also available in yellow but even fewer than those in red. They still suffer from flaking rockers, I had 3 replaced at 9k miles a year after warranty had expired and have since replaced another 4 myself since I started doing my own servicing. Currently at just over 25K now and due to check clearances and rockers again soon, hoping for a good result but expecting to find some worn ones again. Still a really fun bike though, it was my first Ducati and I bought it new nearly 18 years ago and it will almost certainly be the last one I sell when I finally give up riding.
Hugh my MY02 S built summer 01 needed just 2 replacing after 40k road miles. For the OP the flaky rocker issue mostly affected bikes built concurrently with 996 production in 99/00 and was claimed to be due to QA issues at the company that manufactured the rockers. It was 'resolved' according to Ducati with a different supplier for late MY01 and 'all' MY02 bikes. However all 916/748/996 are subject to some wear, and it seems to be pretty random as whether its oil, warm up, overly tight clearances, track use or just bad luck for the bikes that were not fitted with the dodgy batch of rockers used in MY99 to MY01 bikes. If the service record by a known Ducati specialist is good and mileage low, I would not worry about them. The bike in the picture looks pretty clean and unmolested to me apart from the ugly screen (not sure why it states its a Mono) and for most bikes that have had issues with rockers at low miles they would have had them replaced by now.
I don't worry about the rockers and nor should anyone else, certainly wouldn't let one persons (me?) experience put the OP off buying the bike, far from it. Even the base model 748 is a great bike to own and ride - it's the one bike which I always go back to and cannot believe just how much fun it is even after riding much more powerful models such as 998s and 1098. My view would be go for it and if there are a few issues then it's worth sorting them and reaping the rewards.
It might be luck of the draw. My '02 748 has 71,000 km on original rockers and they look perfect still.
