As announced at the last French Grand Prix at Le Mans, starting in 2026, Harley-Davidson will organize its own international series alongside MotoGP: the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup. The legendary American brand from Milwaukee will establish itself on the world stage with an unusual but spectacular discipline, already popular in the United States.
Present at the Red Bull Ring to formalize the project, Jeff Huesler, Harley-Davidson's Global Director of Racing Programs, set the scene. The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will follow MotoGP at six international rounds in 2026, with a possible extension in 2027. Each weekend will include practice, qualifying, and two races counting toward the championship.
Huesler explains: "We're aiming for six to eight independent teams, each with two riders, for a total grid of 6 to 8 bikes. All will start with a Harley-Davidson Touring model, completely re-engineered for competition. Each bike, built by us, will be identical in performance and technology, so that everything will depend on the rider's talent and the team's strategy.".
The machines will be leased to the teams by Harley-Davidson for the season, ensuring technical equality within the field. This Friday, the Harley Davidson World Cup calendar was also unveiled. The season will kick off in Austin, in support of the Grand Prix of the Americas. The Baggers will then follow the MotoGP for part of the European tour. The next five rounds will be held at Mugello (Italy), Assen (Netherlands), Silverstone (Great Britain), and Aragon (Spain). The season will conclude at the end of September with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
© MotoGP
"It's an honor to be here with MotoGP, the Red Bull Ring, and all the motorsport media. Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903, and we were already racing in 1904. In 122 years, we've tried everything: board track, flat track, endurance, off-road, drag racing, all the way to the first Grand Prix races, and today Super Hooligan and King of the Bagger.", he adds.
For him, the transition from this atypical discipline to the highest world level was a natural progression. “The Baggers were a real game changer. What started as a crazy idea has grown into one of the most watched motorsports series in the United States. It’s proof that you can race a bagger, that they’re fast, and most importantly, that people love to watch them race.”, concludes Huesler.
The names of the teams that will make up the grid will be announced soon. As stated during this press conference, championship officials hope to finalize the lineup by the end of September.
