Following several "official" announcements throughout this year about the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup joint venture with Dorna, The Motor Company took to the EICMA stage this week to serve up additional information about the series. Our prior posts already outlined the broad strokes of the global competition: Harley-Davidson's racing bagger class will officially kick off in the 2026 MotoGP season, comprised of between six and eight teams of two riders each, competing on identical bikes developed by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing. The accompanying calendar was displayed at the Austrian GP, detailing the number of stops and participating circuits, with the six-round series starting in the US before crossing the Atlantic.
At the EICMA announcement, Harley served up more concrete details, with the unveiling of a prototype race bike as well as a preliminary outline of the first confirmed teams for the inaugural season. H-D also engaged in some branding work with the unveiling of an official championship logo, which it describes as “an evolution of the brand’s iconic Bar & Shield visual language.” The new graphic was unveiled along with the competition-prepared Road Glide which H-D states was purpose-built for the competition by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing and which, naturally, sports the championship logo in its unique livery.
Three Teams from Three Continents
The teams confirmed so far to be on the inaugural Bagger World Cup grid are as follows: Saddlemen Racing (USA), Joe Rascal Racing (Australia), and Cecchini Racing (Italy).
Saddlemen Racing enters the series as one of America’s most established V-twin performance programs, competing in MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers while also claiming the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, earning a well-deserved reputation for technical excellence and rider development.
Joe Rascal Racing, an outfit led by James Tonna and known for its high-end motorcycle retail and racing operations, will be representing Australia. The Joe Rascal brand has a growing international presence and claims to be determined to elevate the sport throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Cecchini Racing will bring Italian motorsport heritage and decades of European racing experience to the series. Led by Fabrizio Cecchini, the team has amassed over three decades within the MotoGP paddock supporting world-class teams.
“We are delighted to welcome the first teams to secure their spots in the inaugural Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup season,” said Kolja Rebstock, Senior Vice President, International Markets for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “Since the series’ initial announcement, we have seen tremendous interest from well-established and respected organizations. We have designed the series to feature between six to eight teams, for a total of 12 to 16 riders, and with these first three agreements, we have already filled almost half of the grid. It’s a strong signal that confirms the momentum and excitement surrounding this project. We are moving quickly to bring this championship to life and cannot wait to hit the track in 2026. It’s going to be loud, competitive, and unlike anything fans have seen before.”
Six Rounds at Iconic Circuits
As previously announced back in August, the championship will span six rounds, each held during MotoGP race weekends, with two races per round, totaling 12 races throughout the season at some of the world’s most iconic circuits. The 2026 calendar includes:
- Grand Prix of the Americas – Circuit of The Americas (USA): March 27-29
- Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello (Italy): May 29-31
- Dutch Grand Prix – TT Circuit Assen (Netherlands): June 26-28
- British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit (United Kingdom): August 7-9
- Aragon Grand Prix – MotorLand Aragón (Spain): August 28-30
- Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring (Austria): September 18-20
The Red Bull Ring will host the final, title-deciding round and was chosen to honor Austrian motorsport tradition.
Competition Specifications
The competition-prepared Road Glides weigh around 280 kilograms and produce more than 200 horsepower. Each bike in the series will be identically specified to ensure close competition, with the new Bagger World Cup logo adorning each of the race bikes that will compete in the series.
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