Joe Rascal Racing and NitiRacing share victories in the Netherlands. At the mid-season point, there are only two points separating the two championship leaders.
Qualifying
Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) continued his impressive qualifying streak, securing pole position for the third consecutive time with 1:40.655 minutes - another statement from the previously unrivaled pole specialist of the racing series.
Race 1
Saturday's race offered real thrills: Up to six riders battled bike-to-bike with numerous position changes at the front for the victory. Granado initially lost ground at the start but kept his cool, making his way steadily forward to celebrate his first win in the Bagger World Cup - after having narrowly missed out several times before. Oscar Gutiérrez (NitiRacing) secured second place, earning his fourth podium of the season. His teammate Andrea Iannone completed the podium in third, impressively underlining how quickly he has adapted to his Harley-Davidson Road Glide racing machine.
Race 2
On Sunday, there was no stopping Oscar Gutiérrez. From third on the grid, the Spaniard catapulted into the lead in the first corner and controlled the race to the checkered flag - his third victory of the season. Behind him, Andrea Iannone drove composedly to secure second place without taking unnecessary risks. Eric Granado rounded off a strong weekend in third - and took the championship lead.
Granado further made a statement: In lap three of the second race, he set both a new race lap record and the Bagger World Cup lap record for Assen with a time of 1:40.424 minutes. With a speed of 248.2 km/h during the second free practice on Friday, Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team) achieved the highest speed of the weekend.
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson
"Assen delivered exactly what the Bagger World Cup was created for. In front of nearly 200,000 MotoGP fans and under extreme conditions with track temperatures above 54°C, these race bikes demonstrated impressive performance. Six contenders for victory in the first race, two winners over the weekend, and only two points between first and second places in the championship - the series is already fiercely contested and unpredictable. The fan response was equally strong: The Harley-Davidson Village and our paddock at the heart of the fan zone were consistently well-attended. Now we head to Silverstone - to another historic venue of MotoGP in another important motorcycle market in Europe."
Eric Granado – Joe Rascal Racing, Winner of Race 1
"A fantastic race and a very special win. We worked excellently throughout the weekend, and I felt comfortable from the first practice session. The error in gear choice at the start set me back, but I remained calm, trusted my pace, and worked my way forward step by step. After three consecutive poles, this first win feels great - a wonderful reward for the team's hard work."
Oscar Gutiérrez – NitiRacing, Winner of Race 2
"Overall, a very positive weekend. After the crash on Friday, the start wasn't ideal, but the team worked incredibly hard. We focused on race pace rather than qualifying - and it paid off. I had a very clear strategy: make a good start, get to the front as soon as possible, and try to control the race from there. For the first time this season, I succeeded in making the start I aimed for and took the lead at the first corner. From then on, I focused on running my own race and maintaining the lead, especially when Andrea Iannone applied pressure in the second half. This victory is all the more satisfying after the challenging Friday. Thanks to the entire team - now we turn our attention to Silverstone."
The championship after the third race weekend:
- Eric Granado (BRA) – 111 points
- Oscar Gutiérrez (ESP) – 109 points
- Archie McDonald (AUS) – 97 points
- Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 74 points
- Jake Lewis (USA) – 71 points
- Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 66 points
- Cory West (USA) – 56 points
- Travis Wyman (USA) – 39 points
- Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 37 points
- Cody Wyman (USA) – 26 points
- Jordi Torres (ESP) – 24 points
The championship now moves to the United Kingdom: From August 7 to 9, the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will be held alongside the British MotoGP Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.
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