The late Bill Ivy, Mike Hailwood and some local talent at the Italian GP, 1965. image from the adams archives

Mike Hailwood won the second-ever USGP, held at Daytona, on this week in 1965.

The early 1960s were a period of turmoil between the AMA and FIM, and they were not the brothers in arms that they are now (although with last year's Supercross schism, one might wonder what the non-press release relationship is like today).

West-coast based USMC promoted all of the '60s USGPs at Daytona, with full co-operation from the Speedway. Many AMA riders of the era did not enter the GP race on their own soil out of fear of being suspended by the AMA.

There was also a huge rift between the two sanctioning bodies because of all things, full fairings. GP bikes of the era used full fairings. In AMA they were illegal. Suffice to say it was a very different era in racing almost 40 years ago.

Hailwood won the 500cc title in 1965, beating his team-mate, Giacamo Agostini, by ten points.