Starting in 2026, Harley-Davidson will bring a spectacular racing series to the MotoGP support program with the Bagger World Cup – all the details can be found here
From 2026, there will be a completely new attraction on the major MotoGP tracks alongside the prototypes: the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup. The cult brand from Milwaukee is thus bringing its own international racing series for its powerful touring bikes into the spotlight for the first time.
The tuned touring bikes became famous through the American “King of the Baggers” series, which has been filling grandstands in the USA for several years. Now Harley-Davidson is taking the next step together with MotoGP rights holder Dorna and initiating a championship on the world stage.
Which Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be used?
The focus is on Harley-Davidson Road Glide models that have been specially modified for racing – lighter, faster, and more agile than the standard bikes.
The machines deliver over 200 hp, generate more than 245 Nm of torque on the track, and reach top speeds of over 300 km/h, despite weighing around 280 kilograms. With their beefy V-twin engines, the Bagger racers are set to complement the MotoGP support program from 2026.
A central element of the Bagger World Cup is technical equality. All teams ride on virtually identical motorcycles developed by Harley-Davidson. Between six and eight teams with two riders each are expected to take part, guaranteeing exciting head-to-head duels.
Where and when will the Bagger World Cup take place?
The new series will take place on selected MotoGP weekends. The first official calendar includes six stops in the US and Europe, with two races per weekend. The series kicks off in Austin at the end of March, before moving on to Mugello, Assen, Silverstone, and Aragon, culminating in the grand finale in Austria.
Austin (USA), March 27-29
Mugello (Italy), May 29-31
Assen (Netherlands), June 26-28
Silverstone (Great Britain), August 7-9
Aragon (Spain), August 28-30
Red Bull Ring (Austria), September 18-20
What is Harley-Davidson aiming to achieve with the Bagger World Cup?
This gives MotoGP an extraordinary supporting program that is not only intended to appeal to hardcore racing fans. Harley-Davidson is using the Bagger World Cup to position the brand even more strongly in the global motorsport arena and to combine US motorcycle culture with European racing traditions.
While MotoGP bikes stand for high-tech developments and pure speed, the heavy but race-optimized baggers are intended to provide a contrasting program: large displacement, distinctive sound, and plenty of show factor.
