Hayden Fitzgerald - Wins world 500GP title!

We set off on the 6th of October, a group of 19 Kiwi’s and an Aussie all of whom are classic bike enthusiasts and me, bound for America.

We travelled to Birmingham, Georgia first to race at the Barber Motorsports Park which was full of close racing in all classes on some fantastic and interesting bikes and watched the lunch time action packed entertainment including the aerobatics displays.

I raced in the 500GP class which is equivalent to a production class with machine weight limit and finished up with two wins. It was difficult to follow and I didn’t realize I had two wins until the end of the meeting as our class was combined with the 500 Premier class (which allows for more modifications).

Racing amongst my idol, Kevin Schwantz and pitting with him was a rush in itself. Even stole a spoon full of his desert when we went out for dinner one night.

The track was World Class to say the least. From the layout, to the surface, to the facilities, unlike any track I have been to. The corners were individually technical yet each corner flowed in to the next in harmony creating a real rhythm with blind apexes, up hill exits and down hill chicanes, it was all there.

After a wholesome day at the Barber Museum located at the race track it was time to move to the next circuit. We had a 13 hour drive crossing two States and finally made it to Daytona Beach, Florida. We stayed in a Condo on the beach front. Daytona, home of Nascar, where Nascar had originally began we naturally hopped in the rental vehicle and went for a burn up the beach.

The famous Daytona International Speedway with 37 degree banking, fast corners and a flat, tight infield section had a real contrast to tackle. Being flat out for so long made it initially difficult to adjust and judge speed for the infield. I reckon for the first couple of laps whilst riding the banking I could almost get my outside knee down it was that steep.

The bike went off song in Practice - This was the last thing we needed to happen with the World title race still to come. Ross Graham, Allan Powell, Dave Cole and Dad (Terry Fitzgerald) worked hard to fix the issue. The top end of the G50 was stripped and being rebuilt. Running out of time Danny Ahern from Australia kindly offered me to take his G50 Matchless out and hopefully score enough points to win the 500GP AHRMA World Championship title. I finished 3rd, enough for the title. And that day Lindsay Kyle took the Pre 51 AHRMA World Championship aboard his Vincent Comet 500.

The trip, the people and the bikes were fantastic, everyone I met over there was so accommodating and genuine. I had an absolute blast in America. I learned some new tricks, raced on two incredible circuits and gained a new appreciation for history on two wheels. I have Ross to thank for the opportunity and all of those who went along who made my American adventure unforgettable.

Hayden