Indian Motorcycle Racing Caps Historic 2026 KOTB Season
New Jersey Motorsports Park Season Finale, September 25–27, 2026
In what will go down in the annals as the final time that the Indian and Harley Factory Bagger Racing teams faced off, the Vance & Hines Motorsports-Built Indian Challenger secured the 10th win of the seven-Round, 14-Race season, with a Podium Sweep in the first of the weekend's two races, setting a new record of 24 Podiums for the series.
The team said it has already set its sights on a 2027 pursuit of back-to-back championships, and remains committed to Hyden Gillim and Troy Herfoss. However, although MotoAmerica is holding its cards close to its chest at present, and even though the Indian Challenger has been dominant, the absence of Harley does question the viability of the series for 2027 and beyond. Especially as a resurgent Bagger Racing League's command of the 'Grass Roots' of Bagger Racing looks set to grow stronger.
"When you consider that we entered Daytona back in March with only a single testing session under our belt, it's pretty amazing to think about what we were able to accomplish," said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. "When you break it all down, this season is the ultimate testament to the superior performance of the Indian Challenger and the broader PowerPlus platform, and to the collaborative power of Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines Motorsports."
After clinching the 2026 KOTB championship with Hayden Gillim at Circuit of the Americas earlier in September, the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Motorsports Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team carried its momentum into the season finale. The team "delivered an unparalleled season of record-breaking success," including an individual record eight wins for Gillim. "This season was incredible, and we're proud of everything this team accomplished, but our work doesn't stop there," said Kennedy.
The results marked a historic first season for the new partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports, "which came together ahead of the 2026 season to bring a proven performance platform and decades of race development expertise together under one program. At the heart of the effort was the Indian Challenger, powered by the liquid-cooled PowerPlus 112 engine, giving the team a strong foundation to develop and refine a purpose-built race package throughout the season."
In New Jersey, Herfoss closed out the season with a statement in Race 1, charging from the back of the pack to take his second victory of the season, followed by Gillim in second and Tyler O'Hara in third to complete the Indian Challenger podium sweep. In Race 2, 2026 Champion Gillim added another podium to his season, bringing his No. 69 home in third to close out the 2026 campaign.
"King of the Baggers represents the largest class of motorcycles sold in the United States, and this season has invigorated excitement and enthusiasm for American V-Twin riders all around the globe," said Kennedy. "At the end of the day, it's the average rider who benefits most from the competition between Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson. We're extremely proud of our success this season but certainly expect the team from Milwaukee to be ready to fight for that No. 1 plate come Daytona 2027."
Gillim's championship marked Indian Motorcycle's fourth King of the Baggers title, joining O'Hara (2020, 2022) and Herfoss (2024) as Indian Motorcycle champions.
