Moto Guzzi 1000R shows teeth

A long time ago, in the USA, in the city of Philadelphia, there lived a man named John Wittner. After graduating as a mechanical engineer at Lehigh University (whose alumni include such "monsters" of the auto world as Lee Iacocca and Roger Penske), John ended up in Vietnam. War changes people and their attitude to life, so Witter's worldview has changed. Returning, John decided to become a doctor, that is, a person helping people. There is a saying: a talented person is talented in everything. In our case, the mechanical engineer's new "craze" led to the opening of a private practice on Philadelphia's main street, and enabled Dr. Wittner to become chairman of the advisory board of Bryn Mawr Hospital.


But while Dr. John's hands put fillings and fought tooth decay, his thoughts were in the garage, next to his Harley. Dr. John wanted to assemble such an engine that, through precision fitting of parts and fine tuning, would allow him to win some local race. For example, on a drag strip, a dirt track, or even on a highway. Perhaps dreams would have remained dreams if one day Doc had not bought Moto Guzzi Le Mans. This purchase will change John Wittner's life forever.

Moto Guzzi

For fans of Italian motorcycles, the address "Mandello del Lario, Parodi street, house 57" is almost a Mecca, because it was here in March 1921 that Giorgio Parodi and Carlo Guzzi founded a motorcycle factory. Moto Guzzi is one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in Europe and is celebrating its centenary this year.


From the very beginning, the Italian brand has been actively involved in racing: in 1935, Stanley Woods brought Moto Guzzi the first victory at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, and already in 1949, Bruno Ruffo gave victory in the world championship in motorcycle racing in the 250 cm3 class - the first post-war championship! Having won everything they could, from the mid-fifties the Italians moved to the next class - 350 cm3, having won five titles in a row there! By the end of the decade, Moto Guzzi had 8 World Championship wins and 11 Tourist Trophy wins on the Isle of Man. By the mid-sixties, two important events had taken place. First, Moto Guzzi, Mondial and Gilera signed an "abstention pact", refusing to participate in the World Championship. And secondly, the company was covered by a severe financial crisis, as a result of which control over the plant passed to the state.


During this period, Giulio Carcano developed the "air" V-Twin 90 ° with a volume of 700 "cubes", which developed 50 horses. The motor that provided the future of the brand. Here is a treasure in 1973 acquired by the Argentine immigrant Alejandro de Tomaso! And already in 1975, a new model debuted - the Le Mans 850, the first bike of the de Tomaso era and the future purchase of Dr. John Wittner.

Dr. John's Moto Guzzi

John Wittner, just in case, we recall - a mechanical engineer by first education, highly appreciated the design of the engine and chassis of the Moto Guzzi:



Believe it or not, in 1984, Dr. John's team won the US Amateur Lightweight GP Endurance Championship on their first try! It is said that it is easier to win than to keep what has been won, and Dr. John himself probably also believed. In 1985, Wittner turned his full attention to motorcycle racing, selling his dental practice.


As a result, the team of Dr. John's Moto Guzzi wins the US Endurance title again. But in 1986, Wittner's financial position shook:



Almost completely broke, Wittner went for broke. Having bought with his last money a one-way ticket to Italy, Dr. John "set camp" at the doorstep of the office of Moto Guzzi boss Alejandro de Tomaso in his hotel in Modena.



Obviously, de Tomaso saw in Wittner a man who could change the "retired" image of Moto Guzzi, and they shook hands.

New Hope

When Dr. John returned to the US, he had a bunch of business cards with him, on which he was listed as "Moto Guzzi's North American Engineering Development Consultant." Plus, the promised budget to launch the Moto Guzzi Factory Campaign in the Pro Twins class! However, funds from Moto Guzzi, which sold less than 500 motorcycles a year in the US, were slow to arrive, and the first race of the new season, on the contrary, was rapidly approaching. In the end, Wittner could not stand it, and sent a telegram to Alejandro de Tomaso in Italy, after which he received a check for the required amount. Only 200 weeks left before the start of the 5-mile race at Daytona...


However, the racing prototype of the Pro Twins class, with a spinal frame, was developed by John Wittner before his visit to Italy:



Well, Dr. John had a frame concept, but to compete in the Pro Twins, he needed a motor that could beat Ducati and Harley Davidson. After all, not only for the sake of money, Dr. John Wittner "terrorized" Alejandro de Tomaso for two months. Another reason was the engine "from Todero". Here are its specifications:

✅ Configuration - V-Twin, 90° camber
✅ Working volume - 999 cm3
✅ Power - 115 horsepower, at 9300 rpm.
✅ Carburettors - two 41,5mm Mikuni
✅ Valve mechanism - SOHC, with 4 valves per cylinder

The "Pro Twins" Daytona retained the traditional driveline, which is highly unusual for a superbike. In those years, such “frills” were carried away only in BMW, with motorcycles of the “K series”, but, of course, not for racing.

Engine from Todero

Humberto Todero, assistant to the legendary Giulio Carcano, developed the 8V engine in 1986. Equipped with mufflers and tuned to comply with environmental regulations, the engine with a displacement of 992 cm3 developed 92 horsepower at 7400 rpm. But in the course of the “race for speed”, Dr. John upgraded the engine, shortening the piston stroke, simultaneously bringing the engine displacement to 999 cm3.


To achieve this configuration, Wittner used a crankshaft from a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport bike, paired with Carrillo connecting rods and Ross pistons. The cast-iron liners were “sawed out”, after which the cylinder walls were treated with Gilnisil, a nickel-silicon composite. In fact, the well-known "nikasil".

Just what the doctor ordered

In this configuration, the power increased to 115 horses, at 9300 rpm, but that was just the beginning! Since 1989, John Wittner's motorcycles have had Magneti Marelli electronic fuel injection, with two 52mm Weber throttle bodies, Crane cams, Wiseco pistons and a modified combustion chamber shape. The result - 128 horses, at 9500 rpm, but most importantly - draft torque!



The rest is history: in 1987, rider Doug Braunek was in the hands of Dr. John's Guzzi, interrupted the hegemony of Ducati and Harley-Davidson in the American Pro Twins series! By winning the AMA Championship, Dr. John's Daytona became the most successful Moto Guzzi bike since the Italian factory left Grand Prix racing in 1957.


But further forcing due to the increase in speed led to reliability problems: Moto Guzzi motorcycles pursued technical gatherings! Finding himself uncompetitive, Wittner retired from racing and moved to Italy, where he worked on the development of the road-going Daytona 1000. But that's another story...