Are you ready to hear the rumble?! Inspiration Friday: Kickin’ King of Baggers 2023 is coming in bigger and better than ever before with the season opening at Daytona International Speedway this weekend for Daytona 200! Harley-Davidson vs Indian Motorcycle battle for supreme domination…Big pumping horsepower crate engines, nuclear redline RPMs and screaming fans! Inspiring, exciting and motivating are the MotoAmerica words of the day.
See both Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson slug it out at these amazing race track venues:
March 9-11: Daytona International Raceway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
April 21-23: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.
June 2-4: Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
July 7-9: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.
July 28-30: Brainerd International Raceway – Brainerd, Minn.
September 8-10: Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
September 22-24: New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, N.J.
Harley-Davidson’s, Indian’s, speed, power and touring bags, what more could an inspiring rider want this weekend?
Total Motorcycle would like to thank Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle and MotoAmerica as well as our hundreds of millions of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts who visit and support TMW for inspiring us to bring you this week’s Inspiration Friday: Kickin’ King of Baggers 2023. Each week we bring you another Inspiring Motorcycle story to inspire you to get out and ride.
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HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY TEAM SET TO OPEN 2023 MOTOAMERICA KING OF THE BAGGERS SEASON AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Factory Team Riders, Kyle Wyman and Travis Wyman, Ready to Chase a Championship
The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team is prepared to open the 2023 racing season March 9-11 at Daytona International Speedway, site of the first two rounds of the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers road racing series. Kyle Wyman and his brother Travis Wyman return to ride the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engines. The Harley-Davidson factory team will leave nothing on the track as they fight to bring the championship title back to Milwaukee.
“In our 120th Anniversary year, we’re coming at it bigger and better than ever before, as we compete to win the championship and bring back the #1 plate to Milwaukee where it belongs,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “Our Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team is ready for the season – and with Kyle and Travis on the track, I’m excited for what is set to be a great season of racing for our community of racers and fans alike.”
The King of the Baggers series offers exciting competition between American V-Twin touring motorcycles prepared for competition and equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The 2023 season will see the King of the Baggers series expanded from seven to 14 races over seven double-header weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Series.
A fan feature for the 2023 season is the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary VIP Ticket Package. Offered as a three-day or one-day package, these special VIP passes include admission with fan zone and paddock access, all the MotoAmerica races including the Mission King of the Baggers practice sessions, qualifying and racing action. Each pass also includes access to premium parking reserved for Harley-Davidson motorcycles on all three days of the race weekend, and participation in Harley-Davidson parade laps around the track on Friday and Saturday.
For the 2023 season, the Harley-Davidson factory team will be sporting custom designed livery, honoring Harley-Davidson’s 120th anniversary aboard their race-modified Road Glide motorcycles, Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
Harley-Davidson invites you to kick off the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Today, Harley-Davidson is premiering ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit.
The Wyman Brothers
Travis Wyman, the owner of Travis Wyman Racing based in Las Vegas, finished second in points during the 2022 King of the Baggers season, with one race win (Road America) and three second-place finishes. The 31-year-old racer returns for his second full season with the Harley-Davidson factory team.
“I am excited about my second season on the factory H-D team and ready for the expanded schedule this year,” said Travis. “My consistent finishes last year put me in contention for the title going into the last round. With the two-race format, if Saturday does not go well, you get another shot on Sunday rather than waiting for the next race weekend. As other teams get these bikes figured out, I expect the level of competition to be tougher this season. Our Harley team is going to need to be on its game at every race.”
Kyle Wyman, 33, won three 2022 King of the Baggers races (Atlanta, Monterey and New Jersey) and had two other podium appearances to finish third in season points. Wyman began racing professionally in flat track aboard a Harley-Davidson XR750 and formed Kyle Wyman Racing at the age of 21 to compete at the highest level of professional road racing in the United States. Kyle Wyman is the 2019 Daytona 200 winner. He was King of the Baggers champion in 2021, riding for the Harley-Davidson factory team.
“It will be an honor to represent the Harley-Davidson brand during this 120th Anniversary season,” said Kyle Wyman. “It is incredible to be a part of the enduring history of Harley-Davidson. I’ve spent much of the off season working with the team to further develop our Road Glide race bikes, and I have a lot of confidence going into 2023. We will continue to see lap records fall this season, and everyone on the grid will be quicker.”
Available Support
In addition to competing in the series, the H-D Screamin’ Eagle team continues to work directly with MotoAmerica to promote the series by supporting all Harley-Davidson competitors. Select performance products developed for the 2022 factory team bikes are available to all qualified racers. Teams should reach out directly to their local Harley-Davidson dealership for availability and pricing.
Top squads expected to run Harley-Davidson bikes at the front of the field include the four-rider Team Saddlemen effort with returning veteran racers Cory West and Patricia Fernandez-West along with Frankie Garcia and class newcomer Jake Lewis, all competing on race-modified Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles, prepared with the assistance of Hoban Brothers Racing. The Vance & Hines Racing team returns to the King of the Baggers series with proven series front runners James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, also campaigning race-prepared Road Glide motorcycles.
MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Contingency
Harley-Davidson will offer more than $185,000 in cash contingency for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the Mission King of the Baggers series, with a contingency payout from first to 10th place in all 14 races and a $35,000 series championship bonus. Terms and conditions apply; please see www.MotoAmerica.com for full details, eligibility requirements and deadlines.
About the Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine: The Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 is a powerful street-compliant performance engine offered by Harley-Davidson. Built from the bottom up in Milwaukee, this 131-cubic-inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle crate engine delivers 131 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheel, and may be installed in 2017-later Harley-Davidson Touring models.
2023 Mission King of the Baggers Schedule
(Two full races each weekend)
March 9-11: Daytona International Raceway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
April 21-23: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.
June 2-4: Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
July 7-9: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.
July 28-30: Brainerd International Raceway – Brainerd, Minn.
September 8-10: Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
September 22-24: New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, N.J.
Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes apparel and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CELEBRATES 2022 KING OF THE BAGGERS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH ULTRA-LIMITED INDIAN CHALLENGER RR
An Homage to Tyler O’Hara’s #29, Only 29 Indian Challenger Race Bikes Offer Rare Opportunity for Riders & Collectors to Own the Undisputed King of the Baggers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March 9, 2023 – In celebration of Indian Motorcycle Racing and S&S Cycle’s 2022 King of the Baggers championship season, America’s First Motorcycle Company today announced the retail availability of 29 highly exclusive Indian Challenger RR motorcycles. Built to 2022 race spec by the same S&S hands that wrenched Tyler O’Hara’s #29 championship-winning bike, each purpose-built Indian Challenger RR is available for die-hard track riders and collectors for a premium price of $92,229.
The Indian Challenger RR marks the first-time fans can purchase a purpose-built race bagger. Hand crafted and race-tuned with the same setup that won O’Hara’s second King of the Baggers championship, Indian Motorcycle and S&S are offering fans and collectors the unique opportunity to own a piece of history.
“Originally, the thought of road racing baggers was perplexing to many, and even downright offensive to some road racing purists. But in just three short years, King of the Baggers has emerged as the hottest thing in motorcycle racing as these bikes have rapidly evolved in their sophistication, and we thought it would be awesome to give people the opportunity to own the bike that holds the crown,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “We’re excited to embrace the fandom of bagger racing and celebrate our second title with this highly exclusive, special run of Indian Challenger RR motorcycles. This bike is the real deal, much like when we released the venerable FTR750, the Challenger RR is a true race bike and is not street legal. Put in the right hands, it will reach the podium in MotoAmerica’s Mission King of the Baggers race series.”
Specs for the Indian Challenger Race Replica include the following:
- S&S 2-1 race exhaust
- 17″ race rims
- Dunlop race tires
- S&S billet adjustable triple clamps
- Ohlins FGR250 forks
- TTX Ohlins rear shock
- S&S chain drive conversion
- Carbon Fiber saddle bags
- Fiberglass rear fender
- Saddlemen raised race seat
- S&S adjustable fairing mount
- Aero headlight insert
- Aero windshield
- S&S belly pan
- S&S rear set foot controls
- S&S camshafts
- 112 CID big bore cylinder/piston kit
- S&S air intake system with 78mm throttlebody
- CNC ported cylinder heads
- S&S Billet adjustable rockerarms
- Hayes rear caliper, EBC rear rotor, SBS pads
- Brembo M4 front calipers, 330mm rotors, SBS pads
- S&S automatic chain tensioner
- Maxx full adjustable ECM
- AIM DL2 data logger/dash
- Quickshifter kit
- S&S billet clutch cover
- S&S adjustable handlebars
- S&S race modified swingarm
Racing, and winning, has long been a core element within the Indian Motorcycle brand DNA. Founded by racers, driven to innovate by a desire to go faster and win races, Indian Motorcycle has been racing, and winning, for 122 years. From Oscar Hedstrom’s endurance racing dominance at the turn of the century, to O.C. Godfrey winning at the famed Isle of Man in 1911, to Burt Munro’s land-speed records, to the original Wrecking Crew’s dominance in the ‘50s and the modern Wrecking Crew’s six consecutive American Flat Track Championships from 2017-2022, to the 2022 Super Hooligan Championship on the FTR, and the brand’s two King of the Baggers Championships in 2020 and 2022 – the list of history-making racing milestones for Indian Motorcycle is unparalleled.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
S&S is a registered trademark of S&S Cycle, Inc.; Dunlop is a registered trademark of DNA (Housemarks) Limited;
Öhlins is a registered trademark of Öhlins Racing AB CORPORATION SWEDEN; Brembo is a registered trademark of Freni Brembo S.p.A. Corp of Italy; Hayes is a registered trademark of Hayes Bicycle Group, Inc.; Super Hooligan is a registered trademark of Roland Sands Design, Inc.; Mission is a registered trademark of Gruma Corporation; Progressive is a registered trademark of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company; MOTOAMERICA is a registered trademark of Krave Group.
ABOUT S&S CYCLE
S&S Cycle was born from a passion for racing and has spent over six decades building performance for the powersports market. Their unwavering focus on quality, reliability and top shelf power has made S&S Cycle the absolute leader in high performance on the street and track.
About Harley-Davidson
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. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
