Milan, Italy – November 5, 2025 — Harley-Davidson has officially revealed new details of the highly anticipated Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup during a press conference at EICMA 2025 in Milan. The brand revealed the series’ official logo, debuted a prototype race bike, and announced the first teams confirmed to compete in the inaugural season. Kicking off in 2026, the series will run alongside six MotoGP™ Grands Prix, marking a significant evolution in the company’s racing legacy.
The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will become the world’s first global racing series dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson baggers. Built on the brand’s Grand American Touring platform, these race-modified bikes will deliver incredible speed, agility, and on-track drama. They weigh approximately 280 kg (617 lbs), produce more than 200 horsepower, and will exceed 300 km/h (186 mph) on track, creating a visceral racing format distinct from anything currently on the MotoGP calendar.
Harley-Davidson also revealed the official championship logo, an evolution of the brand’s iconic Bar & Shield visual language, blending Harley-Davidson heritage with a modern, global racing identity. The new visual identity was officially unveiled at the Harley-Davidson stand with the race-prepped Road Glide, purpose-built for competition by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing and featuring the official championship logo in its exclusive livery.
Harley-Davidson also confirmed the first teams that will join the inaugural Bagger World Cup grid: Saddlemen Racing (United States), Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) and Cecchini Racing (Italy). Each brings unique pedigree, competitive ambition, and global credibility to the new championship.
Saddlemen Racing enters as one of America’s most established and innovative V-twin performance programs. Led by David Echert, the team competes in MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers and claimed the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, earning a reputation for technical excellence, rider development, and race-winning engineering. With deep roots in V-twin performance culture, Saddlemen brings proven capability and championship ambition to the global stage.
Joe Rascal Racing, led by James Tonna, represents Australia’s bold new voice in premium performance and international motorsport. With foundations in high-end motorcycle retail and racing operations, the program blends commercial acumen with a passion for performance culture. With a growing international footprint and rapidly expanding community, Joe Rascal joins the Bagger World Cup intent on elevating the sport across the Asia-Pacific region and proving that Australia belongs on the global bagger stage.
Cecchini Racing brings Italian motorsport heritage and decades of elite European racing experience to the championship. Led by Fabrizio Cecchini, the team has spent more than 30 years inside the MotoGP paddock supporting world-class riders and teams. Cecchini Racing arrives with engineering precision, competitive discipline and European pedigree, all now directed toward the world’s first global bagger series.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the first teams that have secured their spots in the inaugural season of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup,” said Kolja Rebstock, Senior Vice President for International Markets, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “Since the initial announcement of the series, we’ve seen tremendous interest from well-established and respected organizations. We’ve designed the series to feature between six and eight teams, for a total of 12 to 16 riders, and with these first three agreements, we’ve already filled almost half the grid. It’s a strong signal that confirms the momentum and excitement surrounding this project. We’re moving quickly to bring this championship to life and can’t wait to hit the track in 2026. It’s going to be loud, competitive, and unlike anything fans have ever seen before.”
As already announced in August at the Austrian GP, the championship will span six adrenaline-fueled rounds, each held during MotoGP ™ weekends, with two races per round, totaling 12 races across the season. This format brings Harley-Davidson’s signature performance to some of the world’s most iconic circuits, amplifying the excitement for fans and riders alike. The 2026 calendar includes:
- Grand Prix of The Americas – Circuit of the Americas (USA): March 27–29
- Grand Prix of Italy – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello (Italy): May 29–31
- Grand Prix of the Netherlands – TT Circuit Assen (Netherlands): June 26–28
- Grand Prix of the United Kingdom – Silverstone Circuit (UK): August 7–9
- Grand Prix of Aragon – MotorLand Aragón (Spain): August 28–30
- Grand Prix of Austria – Red Bull Ring (Austria): September 18–20 – Championship Round
With the Bagger World Cup, Harley-Davidson is redefining what’s possible on two wheels, bringing thunder, torque, and a whole new level of excitement to racetracks around the world.
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Harley-Davidson Background
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. Harley-Davidson also has a controlling interest in LiveWire Group, Inc., the first publicly traded all-electric motorcycle company in the United States. LiveWire is the future in the making for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. Drawing on its DNA as an agile disruptor from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and capitalizing on a decade of learnings in the EV sector, LiveWire’s ambition is to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world.
MotoGP™ Background
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Michael Le Pard (“Mr. Totalmotorcycle”) is the Founder of Total Motorcycle, the world’s largest motorcycle information site, trusted by over 430 million riders since 1999. With over 34 years of experience in motorcycles, gear and rider culture, he has built a global community dedicated to empowering and inspiring motorcyclists.
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