At the EICMA, Harley-Davidson announced new information about the Bagger World Cup
New teams, a new logo and a new era in Harley-Davidson racing
MILAN, 06.11.2025) - During a press conference at the Milan EICMA, Harley-Davidson has announced new details about the highly anticipated H-D Bagger World Cup. The brand unveiled the official logo of the series, presented a prototype of the racing machine and informed about the first teams for season number one. The racing series will start in 2026 and will be held alongside six MotoGPs - a strong development in the US company's racing tradition.
The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will be the world's first racing series dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson baggers. Built for racing and based on the brand's Grand American Touring platform, these motorcycles are synonymous with speed, agility and excitement on the race track. They weigh around 280 kg, produce more than 200 hp and reach speeds of over 300 km/h on the tracks. Exciting races can therefore be expected that are unlike anything currently on the MotoGP calendar.
At EICMA, Harley-Davidson also unveiled the official logo of the championship, an evolution of the popular Bar & Shield signet that synthesizes the brand's heritage with a modern, global racing identity. The new visual symbol was unveiled at the Harley-Davidson stand using a racing version of the Road Glide which was developed by H-D Factory Racing for the competition and bears the championship logo in its exclusive livery.
Harley-Davidson also named the first teams that will take part in the 2026 Bagger World Cup. These are Saddlemen Racing (United States), Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) and Cecchini Racing (Italy). Each team brings high ambitions, many years of experience and maximum expertise to the new championship.
Saddlemen Racing is one of the most established and innovative V-twin performance teams in America. Under the direction of David Echert, it competed in the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Championship and won the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championships.
This has earned Saddlemen Racing a reputation for technical excellence, successful engineering and rider development. Deeply rooted in the V-twin performance culture, Saddlemen Racing brings race-proven expertise and the will to win to the global stage.
Team Principal James Tonna represents Joe Rascal Racing, Australia's bold new voice in premium performance and international motorsport. With its roots in high-end motorcycle retail and racing, the team combines commercial success and a passion for performance.
With a growing international presence and a rapidly expanding community, Joe Rascal Racing joins the Bagger World Cup, promoting the sport across the Asia-Pacific region and proving that Australia belongs on the global bagger stage.
Cecchini Racing stands for Italian motorsport tradition and decades of experience in top European racing. Under the management of Fabrizio Cecchini, the team has been at home in the MotoGP paddock for more than 30 years, supporting world-class riders and teams. Cecchini Racing brings technical precision, sporting discipline and European tradition, all of which are now aligned to the premier global bagger racing series.
„We are delighted to welcome the first teams to secure their place in season number one of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup,“ commented Kolja Rebstock, Senior Vice President International Markets at Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
„Since the series was first announced, we have received a lot of interest from a number of established and renowned organizations. We have designed the series for six to eight teams with a total of twelve to 16 drivers and with these first three contracts we have already been able to fill almost half of our starting places.
This is a strong signal that underlines the momentum and enthusiasm surrounding the project. We are working flat out to get this championship off the ground and can't wait to hit the tracks in 2026. It will be loud, exciting and unlike anything the fans have been treated to before.“
As announced at the Austrian GP in August, the championship will comprise six adrenaline-filled race weekends, with two rounds per weekend - a total of twelve races in the season - each taking place on MotoGP dates. The format will bring the characterful power of Harley-Davidson to some of the world's most famous race tracks, increasing the excitement for fans and riders alike. The 2026 calendar includes:
- MotoGP of the USA
Circuit of The Americas, Austin (Texas), USA, March 27 to 29
- MotoGP of Italy
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Mugello, Italy, May 29 to 31
- MotoGP of the Netherlands
TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands, June 26 to 28
- MotoGP of the United Kingdom
Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Great Britain, August 7 to 9
- MotoGP of Aragon
Circuito MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz, Spain, August 28 to 30
- MotoGP of Austria
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria, September 18-20 - Championship finale
With the Bagger World Cup, Harley-Davidson redefines what's possible on two wheels, bringing V2 sound and torque as well as a new benchmark for excitement to the world's racetracks.
Text & image credits: Harley-Davidson
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