In 2026, the landscape of support races will change: a brand new Harley Bagger Cup, launched by Harley-Davidson, will take the place of the defunct MotoE World Championship. Goodbye electric prototypes — hello big American twins, torquey, spectacular and decidedly audible.
The discipline, conceived as a 100% show-stopping platform, will begin with six events and could eventually be extended to all MotoGP weekends. To achieve this, Harley must attract credible professional teams, capable of ensuring a suitable sporting level and solid promotion.
« You'll recognize some names from the top categories, but there will also be some young talents. " promised Jason Kehl, Harley's technical program manager, speedweek.
After dominating the MotoE with Granado et Casadei, the team LCR appeared as a natural candidate for the transition to this new championship.
But his boss, **Lucio Cecchinello**, put an end to all the rumors: No, absolutely not. »
He explains why:
« Dorna had approached us with MotoE. I consulted HondaAnd we felt it would be worthwhile to commit to learning, because the initial vision was a championship. multibrand. Sadly, This has never happened and there has been no technological feedback.. »
« Honda competes directly with Harley-Davidson in certain segments »
Where MotoE could fit into an industrial logic, the Harley Bagger Cup is on the wrong track for LCR.
« With the new bagger category, the situation is different. Our long-time partner, Honda, is in direct competition with Harley-Davidson in certain segments. And since the concept is completely different, Any involvement would be out of the question, out of pure respect for Honda.. »
The message is clear: loyalty before business opportunities. However, Cecchinello He doesn't criticize this new formula. He even sees it as a shrewd marketing move:
« There's nothing to criticize about this series, because It aims to attract a completely new audience to motorcycle sport — a good approach to further develop MotoGP »
But the boss — and now president of IRTA — maintains an implacable preference: With all due respect to the competition, our hearts beat faster for real racing motorcycles. »
La Harley Bagger Cup It arrives with a very American DNA: heavy, muscular, spectacular. A discipline designed to appeal to the public rather than engineers.
LCRFor its part, it remains aligned with its mission: to serve Honda in MotoGP and to remain at the heart of the technology that shapes the future of Grand Prix racing.
And in the garages of CecchinelloNo big twin will ever replace pure racing.
