As part of its “evolution” for racing, Harley-Davidson is packing its bags and moving from MotoAmerica to MotoGP, IRTA and FIM. Moving forward, The Motor Company will support the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup as the company’s premier racing platform. Closer to home Harley will invest in what they call “grassroots racing.”
“Our evolved racing strategy inspires all of us to ride by putting the fastest Harley-Davidson motorcycles on the biggest stage, while bringing the same competitive edge to a broader audience through our grassroots program,” explains Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “Whether it’s bragging rights at the local drag strip, the podium at a flat track, or a dealership challenge – everyone has an opportunity to compete and win on a Harley-Davidson.”
“What we accomplished in the inaugural season of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup exceeded our expectations,” adds Jeffrey Schuessler, Director – Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson. “We saw incredible racing, five different race winners, every team on the podium and a championship fight that went all the way to the final round. But what I’m most proud of is how our teams, riders, partners, dealers and the entire Harley-Davidson community got behind this championship and helped bring it to life around the world. This is only the starting line. We now have an incredible foundation to build from, and the opportunity ahead of us is enormous.”
Following the withdrawal from MotoAmerica, The Bagger World Cup will serve as the primary racing development and demonstration platform for Harley-Davidson performance, supporting future motorcycles and race-derived Screamin’ Eagle performance products. “Screamin’ Eagle is where Harley-Davidson engineering meets the relentless pursuit of performance,” notes COO Bryan Niketh, “Taking lessons learned on the track, and making related performance products available to our riders further underscores the importance of the evolved racing strategy.”
“Thank you to MotoAmerica for their partnership and commitment to King of the Baggers. Without their support, and the exciting racing in the series, we would not have the success we achieved,” concludes Jason Kehl, Technical Director and Team Principal, Harley-Davidson Factory Racing. “I also want to recognize Indian Motorcycle Racing for their fierce competition in each of the six seasons. Having a rival that consistently pushed us to raise our level made our team better, helped elevate the entire category, and made the wins much more meaningful.
“We are extremely proud of what Harley-Davidson Factory Racing, our riders, employees, supported teams and partners have accomplished. That success was built on the commitment and technical capability of an incredible group of people, as well as the support of our fans. The passion of so many Harley-Davidson enthusiasts is a key reason why the bagger category continues to grow.”
