At EICMA, Harley-Davidson Revealed New Details about the Bagger World Cup

During a press conference at Milan's EICMA, Harley-Davidson unveiled new information about the eagerly awaited H-D Bagger World Cup. The brand revealed the series' official logo, presented a prototype of the race bike, and detailed the first teams for season one. The race series is set to begin in 2026 and will run parallel to six MotoGPs – a significant development in the racing tradition of the US company.

The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will be the world's first racing series dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson Baggers. These race-built motorcycles, based on the brand's Grand American Touring platform, represent speed, agility, and excitement on the track. They weigh around 280 kg, produce more than 200 hp, and reach speeds of over 300 km/h on the circuits. Exciting races are to be expected, unlike anything currently found on the MotoGP calendar.

At EICMA, Harley-Davidson also unveiled the championship's official logo, an evolution of the popular Bar & Shield emblem, reflecting the brand's tradition and a modern, global racing identity. The new visual symbol was introduced at the Harley-Davidson stand via a racing version of the Road Glide, developed by H-D Factory Racing for competition, featuring the championship's logo in its exclusive paint.

Harley-Davidson also announced the first teams that will participate in the Bagger World Cup in 2026. These include Saddlemen Racing (USA), Joe Rascal Racing (Australia), and Cecchini Racing (Italy). Each team brings high ambitions, long- standing experience, and maximum expertise to the new championship.

As one of America's most established and innovative V-Twin performance teams, Saddlemen Racing, under the leadership of David Echert, has competed in the MotoAmerica Championship King of the Baggers and won the Mission Super Hooligan National Championships in 2024. Saddlemen Racing has built a reputation for technical excellence, successful engineering, and driver development. Deeply rooted in the V-Twin performance culture, Saddlemen Racing brings race-tested expertise and a desire to win to the global stage.

Team leader James Tonna represents Joe Rascal Racing, Australia's bold new voice in premium performance and international motorsport. With roots in high-end motorcycle retail and racing, the team combines commercial success with a passion for performance. With a growing international presence and a rapidly expanding community, Joe Rascal Racing joins the Bagger World Cup, promoting the sport throughout the Asia-Pacific region and proving that Australia belongs on the global Bagger stage.

Cecchini Racing stands for Italian motorsport tradition and decades of experience in European top racing. Under the leadership of Fabrizio Cecchini, the team has been present in MotoGP paddocks for more than 30 years, supporting world-class drivers and teams. Cecchini Racing brings technical precision, sporting discipline, and European tradition, all now focused on the first global Bagger racing series.

'We are delighted to welcome the first teams that have secured their place in season one of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup,' commented Kolja Rebstock, Senior Vice President International Markets at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. 'Since the series' first announcement, we have received great interest from numerous established and renowned organizations. We have designed the series for six to eight teams with a total of twelve to sixteen riders, and with these first three contracts, we have already filled nearly half of our starting slots. This is a strong signal that underscores the momentum and excitement surrounding the project. We are working hard to bring this championship to life and can hardly wait to hit the race tracks in 2026. It will be loud, exciting, and unlike anything offered to fans before.'

As previously announced in August at the Austrian GP, the championship will feature six adrenaline-filled race weekends, with two races per weekend – totalling twelve races in the season – held in conjunction with MotoGP events. The format brings the characteristic power of Harley- Davidson to some of the world's most famous race tracks, heightening the excitement for fans and riders alike. The 2026 calendar includes:

- MotoGP of the USA: Circuit of the Americas, Austin (Texas), USA, March 27-29
- MotoGP of Italy: Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Mugello, Italy, May 29-31
- MotoGP of the Netherlands: TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands, June 26-28
- MotoGP of the United Kingdom: Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, United Kingdom, August 7-9
- MotoGP of Aragon: Circuito MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz, Spain, August 28-30
- MotoGP of Austria: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria, September 18-20 – Championship Finale

With the Bagger World Cup, Harley-Davidson redefines what is possible on two wheels, bringing V-twin sound and torque as well as a new benchmark for excitement to race tracks around the world.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MEDIA OFFICE SWITZERLAND
Pablo Morales
c/o Brand Affairs AG
Office +41 44 254 80 00
Mühlebachstrasse 8
8008 Zurich
Switzerland

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