Harley Reveals More Details of Eponymous Bagger World Cup
Harley-Davidson used the occasion of the 82nd EICMA expo at Milan in November to reveal further details of its plans for the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
During a press conference, the brand revealed the series' official logo, debuted a prototype race bike, and announced the first teams confirmed to compete in the inaugural season. Kicking off in 2026, the series will run alongside six Liberty Media owned MotoGP Grands Prix - "marking a significant evolution in the company's racing legacy.
"The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will become the world's first global racing series dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson baggers. Built on the brand's Grand American Touring platform, these race-modified bikes will deliver incredible speed, agility, and on-track drama. They weigh approximately 280 kg (617 lbs), produce more than 200 horsepower, and will exceed 300 km/h (186 mph) on track, creating a visceral racing format distinct from anything currently on the MotoGP calendar."
The first teams conformed for the series are Saddlemen Racing (United States), Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) and Cecchini Racing (Italy).
Saddlemen Racing enters as one of America's most established and innovative V-twin performance programs. Led by David Echert, the team competes in MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers and claimed the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, earning a reputation for technical excellence, rider development, and race-winning engineering. "With deep roots in V-twin performance culture, Saddlemen brings proven capability and championship ambition to the global stage."
Joe Rascal Racing is led by James Tonna and represents Australia's "bold new voice in premium performance and international motorsport" and Cecchini Racing "brings Italian motorsport heritage and decades of elite European racing experience to the championship."
Kolja Rebstock, Harley's Senior VP for International Markets said: "Since the initial announcement of the series, we've seen tremendous interest from well-established and respected organizations. We've designed the series to feature between six and eight teams, for a total of 12 to 16 riders, and with these first three agreements, we've already filled almost half the grid. It's going to be loud, competitive, and unlike anything fans have ever seen before."
The championship will span six rounds, each held during MotoGP weekends, with two races per round, totaling 12 races across the season.
Grand Prix of The Americas
Circuit of the Americas (USA): March 27–29
Grand Prix of Italy
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello (Italy): May 29–31
Grand Prix of the Netherlands
TT Circuit Assen (Netherlands): June 26–28
Grand Prix of the United Kingdom
Silverstone Circuit (UK): August 7–9
Grand Prix of Aragon
MotorLand Aragón (Spain): August 28–30
Grand Prix of Austria
Red Bull Ring (Austria): September 18–20 – Championship Round
