More details released on Harley global bagger racing championship
Following the announcement back in May that bagger racing will be added to the undercard of selected MotoGP rounds in 2026, further details on the one-make racing series were announced during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend in August.
Created by Harley-Davidson in conjunction with MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports, the first global bagger championship - to be known as the ‘Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup’ - will be held over six rounds.
The inaugural Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will kick off at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas in March, followed by rounds at Mugello in May, Assen in June, then Silverstone and Aragon in August before the series wraps up at Spielberg in September, where the ‘Championship Round’ will be held. All stops on the six-round calendar will be supporting MotoGP at each venue.
Bikes for the Bagger World Cup will all be based on Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide, tuned and equipped to similar spec as those that are already racing in the King of the Baggers series in the USA.
“The launch of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup signals a bold new era for Harley-Davidson and for the sport of motorcycle racing,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “This series is about pushing limits, of our machines, our riders, and our brand, on a global stage.
“We’re proud to partner with MotoGP to bring this vision to life.”
Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, added: “We’re always looking for ways to innovate and expand, both at the track as we continue our evolution, and to grow the reach of the sport even further – staying faithful to what fans love about MotoGP but finding ways to connect with new audiences. The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup fulfills the brief.
“It will be a fantastic addition to race weekends for fans onsite, at the same time as connecting our sport to one of the most iconic lifestyle and cultural brands in North America – and the world.”
With a championship calendar confirmed, prospective teams and sponsors are now being urged to make preparations ahead of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup season getting underway.
