MotoGP, VIDEO, Harley-Davidson impressed riders with its baggers: "fascinating but intimidating, the engine is a cannon that reminds me of the Honda V5"

Iconic American brand Harley-Davidson caused a sensation at the latest MotoGP tests by taking its famous baggers to the Barcelona circuit. This initiative, the result of a partnership with Dorna, opens up new perspectives for Harley-Davidson and the motorcycle world championship.

the bikes Harley-Davidson, American icons often associated with the road and cruising, are about to change their reputation thanks to a unique partnership with MotoGP. These imposing machines, often considered far removed from track performance, made a notable appearance during MotoGP testing at the Montmelò circuit. This rapprochement marks a major step in the American brand's internationalization strategy and a significant step for MotoGP in the North American market.

The presence of Harley-Davidson in Montmelò arises from an agreement between Dorna, the organizer of MotoGP, and the Milwaukee-based manufacturer. The goal is clear: to extend the reach of Harley-Davidson beyond the American borders while strengthening the interest in MotoGP in the United States, a strategic market. This partnership is also part of the context of the upcoming entry of Liberty Media (owner of Formula 1) as majority shareholder of Dorna in 2025, thus consolidating a global vision for MotoGP.

The most striking element of this collaboration was the demonstration of the Harley Davidson Road Glide, motorcycles from the category King of the Baggers from MotoAmerica. These motorcycles, weighing nearly 280 kilos, surprised with their good performance.

These Harley-Davidsons are only 20 seconds slower than a MotoGP and 9 seconds behind a Moto3

With a lap time of 1'54 seconds on the Montmelò circuit, they are only 20 seconds slower than a MotoGP and 9 seconds behind a Moto3, impressive results for machines equipped with suitcases and designed above all for the road.

The pilot Kyle Wymanrepresenting Harley-Davidson Factory Racing, has proven that these bikes can be pushed to their limits: knee on the ground, millimeter-precise trajectories, and a top speed reaching 275 km/h thanks to their twin-cylinder engines developing almost 180 horses.

Iconic drivers like Marco Melandri, Randy Mamola, James Rispoli, Simon Crafar et John Hopkins also had the opportunity to test these baggers. Melandri, impressed by their power and torque, described his experience as “ fascinating but intimidating ", particularly because of the weight and atypical ergonomics of these machines. " The engine is a cannon, it has so much torque it reminded me of a Honda V5 engine “, he said on speedweek, while welcoming the absence of electronic aids, making driving even more exciting.

Created in 2020, the category King of the Baggers has quickly established itself as one of the most popular disciplines in the MotoAmerica championship. In 2023, it made its first international foray at the Grand Prix of the Americas, paving the way for a possible integration into the MotoGP calendar. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, the CEO of Harley-Davidson, Jochen zeitz, expressed his desire to promote this competition to a global audience.

With this partnership, Harley-Davidson and MotoGP lay the foundations for a collaboration that could shake up traditional perceptions of motorcycle racing. Combining the raw power of baggers with the expertise of MotoGP riders, this initiative promises to captivate a wider audience, while bringing the worlds of racing and road racing closer together. One thing is for sure: Harley-Davidson has not finished surprising.