Two wheels, 2000 horsepower, 1320 feet and point four of a second.
Welcome to the world of Hawkesbury’s own Adam Layton.
Layton is on the precipice of complete world Top Bike V-Twin domination, after running a time of 6.49 second at the Santo’s Summer Thunder in Sydney earlier this month. The world record is 6.1 seconds.
Layton, who owns APL Performance Bikes in South Windsor, has finished runner up in the last two rounds of the 400 Thunder, but after running into the sixes in Sydney to a standing ovation of well over 20,000 people, he is ready to do one better in the fourth round in Queensland next month.
To this day Layton remains one of a handful of riders around the world to have ever jumped straight into Top Bike racing. Most progress through the ranks from street bike level up.
In just two short years Layton has blown the sport away, making himself known around the world for speed, skill and laser focus.
“I’ve been riding motorbikes my whole life, I didn’t want to get to 80 and realise I didn’t give it a go and I could have.
“I wanted the chance the ride the world’s most powerful bikes.”
Layton designs, builds and engineers his V-twin cylinder bike with a naturally aspirated engine, worth well over $200,000. But is backed by his crew, who are also members of his staff at APL.
“These bikes can reach speeds of 400km/h … they are four times more powerful than a V8 Super Car.” Layton said.
“The littlest turn of my head and it could completely redirect the bike.
“My crew make sure at the beginning of the race that the bike is 100 per cent … My staff here at the shop are my crew, they are the only people I trust.
“If they were to even leave one teaspoon of nitro in the cylinder it would blow apart the whole bike, it would explode.”
In Top Bike the aim is to race a quarter mile (1320 feet) in the fastest time possible.
In his last race Layton’s reaction time to the green start light was 0.8 seconds. By one second he had reached speeds of 150km/h. As he sails over the finish line, deploying his parachute, he has reached speeds just shy of 400km/h.
Layton’s wife, Julie, said that despite the clear risk involved in the sport, she has full confidence in her husband.
“With Adam I know he would never get on the bike for a race and wing it. He always makes sure he has everything 150 per cent right before doing it.”
Adam raced motocross from the age of six, and later in life moved to sprint cars – then tragedy struck. Adam and Julie’s young son Chad was diagnosed and later passed away of cancer.
“We really took a break from everything, and went through some financial hardship. We decided to focus on building bikes and running our business from home,” Layton said.
“It was only in 2000 that I went and watched a nitro motorcycle race. I said to myself, ‘damn, I just have to do that one day’.”
Adam and Julie, who have three other children aged 11, eight and four said drag racing has been the most family oriented sport that had ever been affiliated with.
He said throughout his life of racing, he has never been more excited than riding Top Bike. He described the experience as “life changing”.
“It is a sport that has to be experienced to believe.”
The energy of the motors, it will change your life. It is something you will never forget.”
Layton’s very first race in Top Bike in 2016 wasn’t what he had hoped for, he ran a nine to ten second time and soon realised the sport was bigger than just him.
“We needed good sponsorship to improve.”
That’s when they brought marketing manager John Baremans in to the team.
“Back in the day this sport would have been about a bunch of guys who enjoyed doing it as a hobby,” Baremans said.
“Now its bullet proof vests and parachutes to slow them down.”
“Drag racing today is a professional motorsport which attracts million of people to events all over the world.”
In the next two years Layton says he has his sights set on a possible invitation to ride in America, a two-bike team, an Australian championship and a world record.
“No one in the world has ridden into the five second realm on a V-twin cylinder bike.
“Only one other man in the world has reached the fives on a four cylinder. His name is Larry McBride and he currently holds the record on a four cylinder bike in 5.61 seconds at over 400km/h.
“I don’t think people understand how huge those split seconds are, what goes into it. It could take a rider two years to shave that kind of time off their ride. It takes a good crew and a lot of money.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring Adam Layton Motorsport is encouraged to get in contact with his team at APL Performance Bikes, in Walker Street, South Windsor. You can also follow his progress on his Adam Layton Motorsport Facebook page.
The next round of the championship series is in Queensland on March 13, and Layton is excited to improve his bike upon his last race to get an even better run up north.