- Bradley Smith returns to the Harley-Davidson x DynoJet Factory Race Team for the King of the Baggers series
- Defending champion Kyle Wyman and the new satellite team Big Diehl Racing with James Rispoli complete the Harley lineup
- The 2026 season comprises 14 races across seven weekends, with the opener held in early March at Daytona
Bradley Smith is one of the few European racers to have made the leap into the American bagger racing series. Following his debut season in 2025 in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers, the 35-year-old Briton has confirmed that he will once again race for the Harley-Davidson x DynoJet Factory Race Team in 2026. Smith will pilot a race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide and, after three podium finishes last year — including a second place at the season opener in Daytona — aims to push further toward the front.
From the MotoGP Paddock to the Bagger Racing Circuit
Bradley Smith’s path to the King of the Baggers series is anything but ordinary. The Briton has been racing motorcycles professionally since 2006, bringing eight seasons in the MotoGP class with a total of 119 race starts. He also competed in the Endurance World Championship. In 2025, he made the switch to the US bagger racing series and finished his rookie season with 115 points and three podium finishes.
Smith speaks optimistically about the upcoming season: “I’m excited about the upcoming 2026 season with Harley-Davidson x DynoJet Factory Race Team. A year’s worth of experience on the Road Glide motorcycle and familiarity with all of the tracks should elevate my results.” He is convinced that the intensive development work during the off-season will pay off and expects to be in the title fight once again.
Screamin’ Eagle Power and Öhlins Suspension
The factory race team’s machines are based on the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and are extensively modified for track use. At their core is a tuned Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine. The suspension relies on Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir shocks, complemented by competition exhaust systems, racing tires, and lightweight bodywork. Despite the racing modifications, the machines must retain the production frame and be equipped with fairings, a windshield, and saddlebags per regulations. On some circuits, these modified touring motorcycles reportedly reach speeds exceeding 270 km/h (168 mph).
The team’s partner list is correspondingly prominent: alongside title sponsor DynoJet, supporters include Rockford Fosgate, Öhlins, Akrapovič, STM Racing Clutch, K&N Filters, and SYN3 lubricants.
Wyman Defends the Title, Rispoli Joins the Satellite Team
Alongside Smith, Kyle Wyman also returns to the Harley-Davidson x DynoJet Factory Race Team. The 36-year-old American is the reigning King of the Baggers champion and has extended his contract for two additional years. In the 2025 season, Wyman dominated the series with seven wins and three additional podium finishes in 14 races. He ultimately held a comfortable 70-point lead over the runner-up. Since joining the Harley factory team in 2021, Wyman leads the series with a total of 25 race wins.
Wyman described last season as one of the most satisfying of his career and emphasized that only another title win for Harley-Davidson could surpass it. At the same time, he cautioned that the competition had also been working hard during the off-season.
In 2026, Wyman will carry the number 1 plate as a mark of his title defense. The native New Yorker started his career in flat track racing at the age of eight, turned professional at 16, and won the prestigious Daytona 200 in 2019.
Big Diehl Racing as New Harley Satellite Team
A new addition for 2026 is the entry of Big Diehl Racing as a satellite team. The team, led by owner Richard Diehl, comes from automobile racing and was previously active in the professional Trans Am Series. As a Harley-Davidson Factory Racing satellite team, Big Diehl Racing receives full technical support and identically specified Road Glide race machines as the factory team.
At the handlebars is James Rispoli, entering his fifth King of the Baggers season. The 34-year-old American, nicknamed “Hogspoli,” has scored two victories and 14 podium finishes in the bagger series and was overall runner-up in 2024. In the 2025 season, he finished sixth with 130 points. Outside of bagger racing, Rispoli won the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship on a Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST and plans to defend that title in 2026 as well.
14 Races Across Seven Weekends
The 2026 King of the Baggers season comprises 14 races, split across seven doubleheader events within the MotoAmerica Superbike series. The season opener took place from March 5–7 at the Daytona International Speedway. Subsequent rounds include Braselton (Road Atlanta) in April, Elkhart Lake (Road America) in late May, Monterey (Laguna Seca) and Lexington (Mid-Ohio) in July. September features two highlights: from September 11–13, the series visits the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, also known as a MotoGP venue. The season finale takes place in late September at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Jason Kehl, Director of Racing at Harley-Davidson, expressed confidence in the season’s prospects. He spoke of the team having tested and developed the Road Glide race machines relentlessly during the off-season. He also noted that everyone on the grid will be gunning for the number 1 bike, which raises the stakes for the title defense even further.
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