Ducati Owners Club GB: Events Co-ordinator Steve Staines planning a personal Paul Smart tribute ride to World Ducati Week

Steve Staines is planning a solo adventure to World Ducati Week, paying tribute to Ducati legend Paul Smart in the process…

I’ve been riding for 20 plus years and got my first Ducati in 2018 after purchasing a black and gold Scrambler Ducati Café Racer. Within three months I then purchased a Multistrada 1260 S, proceeding to cover 15,000 miles in nine months. I then part exchanged that at Vindis Ducati for my current Multistrada 1260 S in 2019.

I’m part of the Ducati Owners Club GB and am on the Council of Management as the Events Co-Ordinator, a role I’ve had for two years now. The role came about as I take part in a lot of trips and met the club Chair Martyn Edwards at a rally. I saw there was an opening, so went for it and got it.

I was booked to go to World Ducati Week for the first time a couple of years ago, but Covid scuppered those plans. So, it’s great to finally have WDW2022 to look forward to later this month. I’ve been down to the Ducati factory before with my son, but I’m really excited to experience World Ducati Week for the first time.

Jilly Penegar is the DOC GB’s DESMO magazine editor and has been with the club for many years. Jilly knew Paul Smart personally so when she found out that I was planning a solo adventure to Misano for WDW she and Livio Lodi had the thought of me riding there as a personal tribute to Paul, who was thought of dearly by us all in the club. Although I’m planning this trip on my own, I am hoping to meet other Ducati Owners Clubson the route down to Italy, to share stories about Paul and celebrate all things Ducati.

Total mileage for the return trip is coming in at just over 3,400, but that distance could easily get longer should I discover places to explore on the way down or am given tips for stunning must-ride roads from any of the European Ducati Owners Club members I hope to meet on my journey.

My current trip looks like this, but the dates are flexible and could change as I might want to stay on somewhere a couple of days if the roads and food prove too good to say goodbye to!

15th July: Calais to Bergues
16th July: Bergues to Echternach
17th July: Echternach to Wurzburg
18th July: Würzberg to Landsberg am Lech
19th July: Landsberg am lech to Heiligenblut
20th July: Heiligenblut to Masare
21st July: Masare to Bologna
22nd July: Bologna to Imola, then onto World Ducati Week, Misano
23rd July: World Ducati Week, Misano
24th July: World Ducati Week, Misano

As I said, I’m really looking forward to experiencing my first World Ducati Week. In particular I hope to try the DRE DesertX, experience, and can't wait for the Friday night ride out which sets off from Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Whilst at Misano the DOCGB committee members will be at the restaurant Dolce Vita each evening throughout WDW, and all are welcome to join us.”

Whilst at Misano, the DOC GB Council of Management members can be found at Restaurant Dolce Vita during the evening and the circuit throughout the day.

If other riders heading to World Ducati Week would like to get in contact with Steve, they can reach him via Facebook. This page will be updated with highlights from Steve’s trip on his return from WDW.

To purchase tickets for World Ducati Week visit tickets.ducati.com.
For further information on the Ducati Owners Club GB visit the DOC GB website. 

Photo credit: Motorcycle News / Justin Hayzelden