Moto Italiane Ovest 2024
Garvey Park, Ascot WA
Sunday October 13
MARTIN Le Tessier can recall the precise moment he fell in love with Ducati motorcycles.
“I was in my early 20s, sitting in a laundromat in Subiaco,” Martin told The Bike Shed Times.
“The laundromat had a glass front window and a single glass door, open to the street. I was doing my laundry, as 20-something-year-olds did in those days, when there was suddenly this eruption of noise. The entire laundry just shook, as it took in the energy thundering from a pair of Conti exhausts right in front of the open door.
“I looked out to see what the hell was going on. It was a Ducati — probably an 860 I suspect. As I watched and heard it ride away from the laundromat I said to myself: ‘I want one of those.'”
That 20-something-year-old Martin is now 60-something-year-old Martin, and Italian motorcycles have been a part of his life ever since.
“I bought myself a 600 Pantah not long after the laundromat incident,” he says.
“Along the way I’ve also had a 1981 Mike Hailwood Replica, mid-90s 750 and 900 Super Sports, and a 999. I had a Laverda Jota as well. A family member more or less gifted me the Jota, and I knew in my heart that I’d eventually give it back to him, which I did.”
Right now, Martin’s stable of bikes are all wearing Ducati badges. His 916 gets most use and is his ‘keeper’ — “I don’t think I’ll ever sell it,” he says.
There’s also a 1098S.
“I bought this one about a year ago,” he says.
“It was in bits and needed assembling, so I got it for a good price. But it turned out the main bearings were shot so it needed quite a bit more than assembling!”
The 1098S project is now on the road.
“It’s still not quite right — it’s rough at low revs — but we’re getting there. And at higher revs it’s just amazing; much more powerful than the 916 which is plenty fast anyway.”
The most recent addition to Martin’s shed is the bike at the start of this story. It harks back to his first Ducati, so it’s a Pantah — a 500 rather than the 600 of his youth — and was an attractive buy on several fronts.
“Firstly, I was looking for something capable of taking a pillion but of course I want something sporty, classic, and I wanted a Ducati!
“Second, although it looks a bit tatty it’s actually a low-mileage bike so it should be sound.
“And third, the tatty looks means I got it for a good price.”
We asked Martin if he was tempted to leave the 42-year-old paint alone, and keep it’s originality.
“No I’m not,” he laughed. “It will get a paint job!”
And finally, an electric scooter, made in China. Say what?!
“It’s not really a Ducati,” Martin says “but the Ducati badge is genuine and original.
“The scooter is a Super Soco CUx Special Ducati Edition. It’s not very fast, of course, but it gets me to work and back. And it’s got the right badge!”
Martin’s not yet sure which bikes he will take to the Moto Italiane Ovest, being held on Sunday October 13th at Garvey Park in the Perth suburb of Ascot.
The Ovest has been running every-other-year for about 20 years, making it one of WA’s longest-running bike shows.
It’s renowned for bringing out some of WA’s most desirable machinery — not just Ducatis, but all manner of Italian bikes.
“The event is open to any Italian bike,” Martin said.
“You don’t have to be a member of a club, and you can register on the day — so just roll up nice and early, show us your bike, and enjoy all the others’.”
There’s a $10 entry fee for exhibitors, and a gold coin donation for spectators.
And if you’re wondering what to expect, here’s our coverage from the last Ovest in 2022.
Italy’s finest creations dodge the showers for a display of perfection
