Saddlemen - Full Focus on FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
After competing in MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers since the series' very first race in 2020, Saddlemen Race Development will direct its undivided attention to the new global FIM-sanctioned Bagger World Cup
The Long Beach, CA based "leader in motorcycle seating comfort and creator of the Gel-Core technology platform" followed up on Harley's own announcement about "Evolving" its race efforts away from the King Of The Baggers series and fully into their burgeoning FIM Bagger World Cup program, by themselves announcing a similar focus.
Saddlemen Race Development say they will focus its "undivided attention on the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, the new global championship for V-twin bagger road racing co-developed by Harley-Davidson, MotoGP (Dorna Sports), and the FIM."
The decision follows six full seasons of competition in MotoAmerica's Mission King of the Baggers series, where Saddlemen Race Development has been a fixture since the very first King Of The Baggers race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2020.
Saddlemen's 2026 domestic program fielded riders Cory West, Jake Lewis, and James Rispoli aboard Saddlemen Drag Specialties Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited motorcycles in King of the Baggers, alongside a championship-caliber Super Hooligan effort on the Harley-Davidson Pan America ST.
"Racing has always been our proving ground - it's how we test, refine, and validate the products our customers ride every day," said David Echert, CEO of Saddlemen Corporation.
"The Bagger World Cup puts bagger racing on the world stage, alongside MotoGP and in front of a global audience. That is where Saddlemen belongs, and it is where we will focus all of our racing energy going forward."
In announcing its own exit from KOTB and Super Hooligans, Saddlemen extended its "sincere thanks to MotoAmerica and everyone involved with the Mission King of the Baggers series for six seasons of exceptional support, professionalism, and partnership.
"MotoAmerica believed in bagger racing when it was an idea, and they built it into one of the most exciting championships in American motorsport," Echert continued. "We were on the grid for the first race at Laguna Seca in 2020, and everything we've learned competing in King of the Baggers - as a team and as a product company - we carry with us to the world stage. We are grateful for every round, every competitor, and every fan who made the series what it is."
www.saddlemen.com
