Harley-Davidson Bows Out of MotoAmerica To Back Global Bagger World Cup & Grassroots Grid

Harley-Davidson has revealed a major restructuring of its factory motorsport division, establishing a twin-track racing roadmap set to take effect from the 2027 season.

Under a revised strategy, Harley-Davidson will concentrate its top-tier factory investments into the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, running alongside the global MotoGP calendar, while rolling out a broader grassroots competitive framework.

The pivot comes at the expense of its domestic road-racing campaign. Harley-Davidson has confirmed it will officially wind down its factory-backed entry and technical team support in the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series at the conclusion of the 2026 championship.

Stepping Up to the Global Stage with MotoGP and FIM

Following an inaugural season run in partnership with MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna, the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA), and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Harley-Davidson is positioning the Bagger World Cup as its sole premier racing showcase.

Starting in 2027, the international championship will expand to feature additional independent racing teams, an enlarged rider roster, and an increased number of rounds on the Grand Prix support bill.

Jeffrey Schuessler, Harley-Davidson’s Director of Global Racing Programs, emphasized that the maiden championship round proved the international viability of heavyweight American V-twin racing, noting that the series delivered five separate race winners and took the title fight down to the final checkered flag.

Moving forward, the World Cup grid will function as the primary development crucible for future high-performance chassis engineering, powertrain stress testing, and the validation of race-derived Screamin’ Eagle crate engines and factory performance components.

Signing Off from MotoAmerica After Six Historic Seasons

The decision to shutter its domestic factory effort marks the end of a pivotal chapter in contemporary American motorcycle racing.

Harley-Davidson was instrumental in shaping MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers category from its inception alongside series organizers Wayne Rainey, Richard Varner, Chuck Aksland, and Terry Karges.

Over six competitive seasons, the factory outfit established a benchmark of success:

• Championship Record: Secured three of the six contested national championship crowns.
• Class Record-Holder: Headlined by factory rider Kyle Wyman, who became the winningest competitor in the category’s history with 27 individual race victories.
• Intense Manufacturer Rivalry: Built a fiercely competitive rivalry against Indian Motorcycle Racing that elevated modified bagger racing into a headline spectator draw.

Jason Kehl, Technical Director and Team Principal of Harley-Davidson Factory Racing, noted that the fierce multi-season dogfight against Indian pushed engineering teams to extract sports-bike agility and high-speed stability out of heavy touring platforms, with those competitive lessons now flowing directly into future motorcycle development.

Grassroots Racing: Drag Strips, Flat Tracks, and Dealer Challenges

Balancing its global Grand Prix appearances, the second arm of Harley-Davidson’s updated motorsport program shifts attention back to customer competitors. The company is formulating an accessible grassroots program spanning local quarter-mile drag strips, short-oval flat tracks, and regional dealership racing challenges. The initiative is engineered to encourage privateer owners and amateur builders to campaign their own machinery competitively with direct brand backing.

Detailed regulations, team allocations, and the 2027 international calendar for the expanded FIM Bagger World Cup will be released over the coming months.