Ducati Paul Smart Race Bike – Light, Fast, and Elegant

by Sam Wiest · Published August 18, 2025 · Updated August 18, 2025

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The Ducati Paul Smart LE 1000 was a special edition of the Sport Classic series of machines. They had a timeless classic cafe look to them. NCR built what they called New Blue. Heavily modified machines to go racing. This is NOT a New Blue however it was built to look like one. The original owner of this machine was Charlie Mavros who tragically passed away in an RV accident in 2018. He was known for having the fastest and most beautiful Ducati race bikes one could imagine. This is one of those machines and Charlie went all out. Moto Corse Performance in Florida did most of the work on this one and it’s main focus was to dominate the banks of Daytona.

The view many racers have seen over the years.

This machine is currently being raced by Mark Heckles in the AHRMA Road Racing series. Mark, who had some fill in WSBK rides in his prime, puts this bike out front and never looks back. While it was built for Daytona, Mark is showing is just as good at any track. The bike is pushing 120+ horsepower and weighs somewhere around 330lbs race ready.

Dual oil coolers are needed on these high horsepower 2 valve ducati engines.

Normal machining of the clutch cover to keep the clutch cool.

I wish we could take pictures of the inside. This 1200cc rocket ship has lightened everything on the inside.

AIM MXL Dash unit match the rest of the race harness.

Simple Controls. Billet Brembo Clutch Master.

BST Carbon Front Rim, Brembo HPK Rotors, and titanium rotor bolts to keep the weight off.

Ohlins forks and Brembo calipers off a 999R/749R

MASSIVE 2 into 2 exhaust system on this 2 valve Ducati is tuned just for Daytona.

They are currently running into some clearance issues with this massive header pipe. Heckles his hitting corners so hard the exhaust is kissing the ground.