Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup in Assen: Granado and Gutiérrez Share the Wins
Joe Rascal Racing and Niti Racing split the wins at the Dutch round, while only two points separate the two leaders at the halfway point of the season.
Assen, Netherlands (June 28, 2026) – The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup wrapped up the first half of its inaugural season this weekend at the legendary TT Circuit Assen, as the championship made a stop at the Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix for its third round of the season.
Drivers and machines were pushed to their limits throughout the weekend. During the hottest sessions of the event, the track temperature rose to over 54 °C (129 °F).
two points
The Series
The first standalone FIM World Series for stock-based Harley-Davidson Baggers. The inaugural season will take place in 2026 as part of the MotoGP support program.
The Machine
The Harley-Davidson Road Glide is in action. Filippo Rovelli set the weekend's top speed of 248.2 km/h during Free Practice 2.
2026 Calendar
Austin, Mugello, and Assen are in the books. Next stop is Silverstone (August 7–9), followed by Aragón and Spielberg.
League leader
After Assen, Eric Granado leads with 111 points, ahead of Oscar Gutiérrez (109) and Archie McDonald (97).
Assen by the Numbers
Qualifying: Granado Claims His Third Consecutive Pole
Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) continued his remarkable qualifying form and secured pole position for the third consecutive race with a lap time of 1:40.655. With this result, the Brazilian further cemented his status as the undisputed pole specialist in the category.
Race 1: Granados' First Win After a Strong Comeback
Saturday's opening race featured one of the closest battles of the season so far. For much of the race, up to six drivers were battling for the win, swapping positions and racing bumper-to-bumper at the front in an intense back-and-forth battle.
Although Granado lost ground at the start, he remained calm and gradually fought his way back to the lead before finally securing his first victory in the Bagger World Cup, having narrowly missed out on it several times before.
Second place went to Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing), who secured his fourth podium finish of the season and valuable championship points. Rounding out the podium was his teammate Andrea Iannone, who continued his impressive adjustment to the championship with another podium finish on the Harley-Davidson Road Glide.
Race 2: Gutiérrez in control from the front
Sunday belonged to Oscar Gutiérrez. Starting from third on the grid, the Spaniard got off to an excellent start and took the lead going into Turn 1, before controlling the race from the front all the way to the checkered flag to secure his third win of the season.
Behind him, Andrea Iannone delivered another smart and mature performance, avoided unnecessary risks, and earned important championship points with his second-place finish. Rounding out the podium was Race 1 winner Eric Granado, who added another strong result to his weekend and, most importantly, took the lead in the championship standings.
Granado also left Assen having achieved another important milestone: With a lap time of 1:40.424 on the third lap of Race 2, he set both a new race lap record and a new all-time Bagger World Cup lap record for the TT Circuit Assen. Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team) recorded the highest speed of the weekend at 248.2 km/h (154.2 mph) during Free Practice 2 on Friday.
▸ In a nutshell
- Race 1: Granado wins ahead of Gutiérrez and Iannone.
- Race 2: Gutiérrez wins ahead of Iannone and Granado.
- Granado sets a lap record of 1:40.424 and takes the lead in the standings.
Comments on the race weekend
Assen delivered exactly what the Bagger World Cup was created for. In front of nearly 200,000 MotoGP fans and under extremely demanding conditions—with track temperatures exceeding 54 °C—these motorcycles continued to perform at an incredibly high level. Six riders battling for victory in Race 1, two different winners over the weekend, and just two points separating the top two show just how competitive and unpredictable this series has already become. Now the series heads to Silverstone with a wide-open title race and growing momentum behind the series.
That was a fantastic race and a very special victory for me. We worked really well all weekend, and I felt comfortable on the bike right from the start. Unfortunately, I made a mistake with the gear selection at the start and lost a few positions, but I stayed calm and focused on my race pace. Lap after lap, I was able to make up ground, take the lead, and then control the gap all the way to the finish. After three consecutive pole positions, this first victory finally feels incredible.
Overall, it was a very positive weekend. After a crash on Friday, we didn’t get off to the best start, but the team worked incredibly hard to put us in the best possible position for the races. I had a clear strategy: get a good start, move up to the front as early as possible, and control the race from there. For the first time this season, I got the start I wanted and took the lead right at Turn 1. Winning after a difficult Friday makes this result all the more satisfying.
Assen Photo Gallery
Diving turns, podiums, and victory celebrations: highlights from the third race weekend. Tap the image to enlarge.
Championship Standings After Round 3
It's a very tight race at the top of the standings: Eric Granado leads with 111 points, just two points ahead of Oscar Gutiérrez (109). Archie McDonald follows in third place with 97 points.
| Pos. | Driver | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Granado | BRA | 111 |
| 2 | Oscar Gutiérrez | ESP | 109 |
| 3 | Archie McDonald | OFF | 97 |
| 4 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | 74 |
| 5 | Jake Lewis | United States | 71 |
| 6 | Filippo Rovelli | ITA | 66 |
| 7 | Cory West | United States | 56 |
| 8 | Travis Wyman | United States | 39 |
| 9 | Dimas Ekky Pratama | INA | 37 |
| 10 | Cody Wyman | United States | 26 |
| 11 | Jordi Torres | ESP | 24 |
Next stop: Silverstone
The championship now moves on to the United Kingdom: From August 7 to 9, the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will be held alongside the MotoGP British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Circuit. With the title race wide open and only two points separating Granado and Gutiérrez, the next chapter promises to be another thrilling one.
About the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson Bagger motorcycles. It is organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is held at select international tracks as part of the MotoGP calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a world-class global racing environment. The championship combines tradition, technical innovation, and on-track competition, continuing the brand’s racing history on the world stage.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Excavator World Cup in Assen
Who won at Assen?
Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) won Race 1, ahead of Oscar Gutiérrez and Andrea Iannone. Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing) won Race 2, ahead of Andrea Iannone and Eric Granado.
What's the standings like after Assen?
Eric Granado leads with 111 points, ahead of Oscar Gutiérrez (109) and Archie McDonald (97). At the halfway point of the season, only two points separate the top two.
When and where is the next race?
August 7–9, 2026, at the Silverstone Circuit during the MotoGP British Grand Prix.
