- Four teams and nine riders make up the grid for the inaugural season
- Modified Harley-Davidson Road Glide machines producing over 200 hp and reaching up to 300 km/h
- First pre-season test on March 21–22 at the Circuit of the Americas
What was announced last August as an ambitious new chapter in the MotoGP support programme is taking a rather modest shape just a week and a half before the first race weekend. The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, the first global racing series for heavily modified Harley-Davidson touring machines, kicks off on the last weekend of March (27–29) at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The official entry list features just four teams with a total of nine riders.
From “King of the Baggers” to the World Stage
The idea of racing heavy touring motorcycles against each other on circuits is not new. In the USA, the “King of the Baggers” series has been attracting packed grandstands and growing enthusiasm for several years. Now Harley-Davidson, together with the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, is taking the step onto the international stage. The iconic brand from Milwaukee aims to merge American V-twin racing culture with European motorsport traditions and strengthen the brand’s global presence in racing.
At the centre are modified Road Glide models based on the Grand American Touring platform. The Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin 131R engine is modified for racing by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing. The machines are expected to produce over 200 hp, deliver more than 245 Nm of torque and reach top speeds exceeding 300 km/h, at a weight of around 280 kg (617 lbs). The hefty bagger racers thus form a stark contrast to the high-tech prototypes of MotoGP.
Technical Parity Through Unified Partners
A central element of the series is technical equality. All teams race on near-identical machines developed by Harley-Davidson. A range of official technical partners ensures that components are at the same level across all participants.
Dunlop supplies tyres developed specifically for the heavy bagger racing machines and provides complete tyre service at the track. The braking system is the responsibility of the Brembo Group: nickel-plated billet brake calipers with four pistons derived from Moto2 are combined with 330 mm T-Drive brake discs to SBK specification and Z04 racing brake pads. Suspension comes from Öhlins, with nitrogen-charged dampers and external reservoirs. Forged Marchesini aluminium wheels in a 7-spoke billet design are intended to significantly reduce unsprung mass.
Further partners include Akrapovic with a titanium racing exhaust, Panta Fuels as the sole fuel supplier, Regina for drive chains, STM with dry anti-hopping clutches from the MotoGP environment, and Dynojet for engine tuning and electronics.
The Grid: International but Thin
Despite the international ambition, the entry list for the premiere is modest. Four teams from four countries field a total of nine riders, with the pilots hailing from six different nations.
Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) with Three Machines
The Australian team brings the most diverse line-up on paper. Cody Wyman (#34) from the USA has made a name for himself in MotoAmerica Super Hooligan with multiple wins and podium finishes. Eric Granado (#51) from Brazil is one of the most internationally experienced riders in the field. He has competed in Moto2, the Superbike World Championship and, most notably, enjoyed a successful career in the MotoE World Cup. Australian Archie McDonald (#69) is the youngest rider in the field at 19 years old. From Jindera in New South Wales, he has won five Australian flat track championships and competes in the Australian Superbike Championship and FIM European STK600. For him, the Bagger World Cup represents a massive leap into the deep end.
Saddlemen Racing (USA) with Three Machines
The American team has expanded its programme to three machines and relies exclusively on experienced US riders. Travis Wyman (#10) is regarded as one of the most consistent riders in American V-twin road racing with numerous wins on Harley-Davidson machines. Cory West (#13) brings over two decades of professional experience and won the 2024 MotoAmerica Super Hooligan title. Jake Lewis (#85) won the 2012 AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship as Rookie of the Year and claimed the 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 title.
Niti Racing (Indonesia) with Two Machines
The Indonesian team represents the Asian presence in the series. Dimas Ekky Pratama (#20) from Indonesia has experience from the Moto2 World Championship and the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship. Oscar Gutiérrez (#99) from Spain is a former World Supersport 300 champion and brings experience from the Supersport and Superbike categories.
ParkinGO Team (Italy) with One Machine
The latest addition to the team list is one of Italy’s most established racing organisations. Founded by Giuliano Rovelli and now led by his son Edoardo, the team has already won the FIM Supersport World Championship and has been active in Moto2, World Supersport and international endurance racing. Filippo Rovelli (#27) rides the team’s sole machine.
Cecchini Racing on Standby: No Iannone, No Torres
The field was originally supposed to be larger. Italian outfit Cecchini Racing was on the provisional entry list but could not secure the necessary financial guarantees for participation at the opening round in Austin. This is particularly significant because the team was due to field ex-MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone and two-time MotoE champion Jordi Torres. Both names would have lent the grid considerably more star power. The organisers are, however, keeping open the possibility of admitting additional teams and riders during the season.
Two Races per Weekend at Six MotoGP Venues
The calendar for the debut season comprises six events with two races each, making twelve rounds in total. After the opener in Austin, the series visits Mugello (May 29–31), Assen (June 26–28), Silverstone (August 7–9), Aragon (August 28–30) and the season finale at Spielberg (September 18–20).
The typical weekend format looks as follows: Friday features two free practice sessions, Saturday brings qualifying around midday followed by the first race in the afternoon after the MotoGP sprint. The second race takes place on Sunday. An exception is Mugello, where qualifying is held on Friday and both races are run on Saturday.
In Austin, both races will be held on Saturday: one between MotoGP and Moto3 qualifying, the second after the MotoGP sprint. Before that, the first official pre-season test takes place next weekend (March 21–22) at the Circuit of the Americas. The opening race then forms part of the Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States.
Big Ambitions, Small Grid
The ambitions behind the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup are unmistakably grand: a new global racing platform intended to attract spectators from different motorsport cultures. With riders from six nations and four continents, the international orientation is at least visible in outline. Yet nine riders spread across four teams is a slim roster for a series that wants to be perceived as an enhancement to the MotoGP weekend. Whether the grid actually grows during the season and the series develops the hoped-for appeal will become clear in the months ahead.
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