The 1964 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 16th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 2 February, with United States Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 1 November.
Mike Hailwood set Daytona alight when he rode to victory in the first US Grand Prix in February 1964, but not before he set a new one-hour world record on the same morning around the
famous Florida banking.
Surprise challenger for the MV star in the 41-lap race around the 3.1-mile circuit, one of five different configurations available, was Benedicto Caldarella, pictured leading Mike.The Argentinian eventually broke the gearbox on the factory Gilera, but for 14 laps kept Hailwood and the MV honest. 
With Caldarella out, Mike cruised the victory, lapping runner-up Phil Read, Matchless G50, twice. John Hartle, Norton, led home Canadian Mike Duff, South African Paddy Driver, Matchless G50, with the first American home, Bud Parriott, sixth on his disc-braked Manx.
Before lining up for the race Mike used the full two-and-a-quarter-mile banking, and against Count Agusta¡¦s wishes flew the MV round to cover 144.83 miles in the hour, and with it claim the World One Hour record.
