DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2015) - Henry Wiles was probably the envy of most people in Central Michigan when he boarded a plane last Thursday for Australia.

“It’s probably about zero degrees at my house and it’s summertime over there (in Australia)," Wiles said.

Wiles isn’t just escaping the cold down under though, he’s one of three AMA Pro Flat Track representatives competing in the Troy Bayliss Classic, a flat track exhibition in Taree, New South Wales, in its third year hosted by the Aussie road racing standout. Wiles and Sammy Halbert will be making their second appearances in the event, and current Grand National Champion Jared Mees is also competing, fresh off his trip to Barcelona, Spain to race in the Superprestigio.

“It was a really cool event,” Halbert said about last year’s race. “(It’s cool) to be able to meet lots of world-famous racers I’ve watched on TV. Being able to go out and battle with them on the track when most of the guys are road racers, it was fun to be able to go out there.”

Bayliss, who has been a longtime proponent of flat track, especially to help road racers train, won the event last year. Like the Superprestigio, riders use motocross-style bikes with 17-inch rain tires. The track for the Troy Bayliss Classic is closer to a TT (Tourist Trophy) course than a standard oval, but doesn’t have a jump. It’s roughly 3/8 of a mile around and an “oil track,” meaning the surface has more grip than what the American contingent is used to. But make no mistake, there’s still plenty of gettin’ sideways.

With top road racers, such as Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi, showing flat track racing plenty of love, especially in recent years, the profile for American riders beyond the states has risen. Exhibitions like the Troy Bayliss Classic and the Superprestigio take advantage of the raised interest and help build the sport’s fan base abroad. Of course, when riders want to test themselves against the best in the world, they’re tapping AMA Pro Flat Track riders.

“It’s good for flat track as a whole,” Halbert said. “With flat track being the biggest in the U.S. they really appreciate us coming over and showing them a little of our flat track style.”

The day is split up between different classes and formats, and they even have an “Americana” race, including multiple heats where the last few finishers are dropped until a winner is crowned from a three-rider final. Halbert won that event in 2014.

“I like their style of racing there, because you get a lot of racing,” Wiles said.

More than just helping raise the profile of the sport, the trip is beneficial for the riders themselves. Any additional attention is certainly attractive to sponsors, but since the Troy Bayliss Classic is a special, one-off race, it receives plenty of attention there.

“It’s a pretty big race,” Wiles said. “It’s televised, it’s good for my sponsors. Hopefully we can put on a good show.”

Halbert, who has also made appearances in the United Kingdom and gained plenty of fans there, agrees.

“Sponsors like it, they like the added exposure,” Halbert said. “The event seems like it has a lot of media exposure.”

The event, which lasts most of the day, is schedule to start at 9 a.m. local time in Australia and wrap up around 10 p.m. There is a 16-hour time difference between Australia and the Eastern Time Zone.