In 2026, a new Harley-Davidson Championship series will race at six MotoGP weekends, with riders battling it out on race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles in two races per round.
Update May 12, 2025
It was confirmed in Le Mans that Harley-Davidson will return to the World Championship in 2026 with a single-make Baggers series running alongside MotoGP at six rounds next year.
Each round will feature two Baggers races. One round will kick off at the Circuit of the Americas, with the other five to be held in Europe. “The grid is expected to comprise six to eight teams, each fielding two riders, supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing,” an official statement read.
“We are looking to establish racing as a core pillar of Harley-Davidson,” said Jeff Schuessler, Global Director of Motorsports at Harley-Davidson. “We have a long heritage inside it, and we believe racing will help us modernize the brand with innovation and technology.
“We’ve had four years now racing in MotoAmerica with great success, and we have started to rebuild a factory team at our HQ in Milwaukee, and we’re looking to grow that muscle, those abilities and those skills, and we believe with MotoGP we will be working a lot with them for logistics, operations and team and sporting management.
“So, we believe in our history and the fans we can bring to these races, as well as our ability to build these race bikes, taking our learning from King of the Baggers, taking our know-how at Dorna, it’s a great opportunity.”
Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports, said, “For the first time in a very long time, we are having something completely different on track. Everything else is focused on the riders and the talent, and this is something different. This year we have 14 races in Europe, which means there is some space.
“It is a way to really touch base with a community that we’re normally used to. The Harley community loves to travel and make a trip, and we cannot wait to welcome them at GPs. In addition to that, I would like to say that as MotoGP we are happy to be able to be a promotion platform for any product, especially motorcycles, and Harley has a really distinct personality.”
Former MotoGP-rider Bradley Smith was also in France. The Englishman, who’s currently third in this year’s Mission King of the Baggers series, heralded the news. “Judging by most people’s comments, you either love it or you hate it. I’m certainly a fan of it. It’s just great we’ve brought another manufacturer to the platform. It’ll be a spec bike, a spec series, with 16 riders on the grid. It’ll be very similar to the baggers we’re racing over in America. It’s been fun,” he said.
“[Harley-Davidson staff] walked in on Friday and the grandstands are packed. It’s a sight to behold here at Le Mans. I don’t know exactly what racetracks it’ll be at. But there will be six races next year, starting in Austin, and then five in Europe. It’s exciting times for everyone involved.”
~Neil Morrison
This is a press release from Harley-Davidson & MotoGP…
New Harley-Davidson championship series will race at six MotoGP weekends, pairing one of the world’s most iconic brands with the most exciting sport on Earth.
Milwaukee, WI & Le Mans, France (May 10, 2025) – Harley-Davidson and MotoGP are launching a new global racing championship featuring Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, debuting in 2026. The 12-race series will race at six Grands Prix across Europe and North America, with riders battling it out on race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles in two races per round.
The machines—engineered by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing and built for head-to-head competition—weigh approximately 617 pounds and produce over 200 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of raw torque, reaching speeds over 186 miles per hour. Every bike will be identical, ensuring close competition. The grid is expected to comprise six to eight teams, each fielding two riders—supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing.
“This is a bold new step for Harley-Davidson’s global racing ambitions,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “Harley-Davidson has been pioneering performance on and off the road since our beginnings over 120 years ago. Most recently, we’ve showcased performance through our racing at the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series and through performance differentiated product such as our new CVO RR motorcycle and our CVO Road Glide ST. We’ve seen how performance has resonated with riders and fans, and we know that they’re keen for more. With this new series, we’re excited to bring a new form of racing to the world stage. Not only is this a bold and new chapter for our brand, celebrating our heritage while pushing into the future, but it will add an amazing spectacle to the greatest motorcycle show in the world.”
“This collaboration with Harley-Davidson is an exciting opportunity for both parties,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports. “We offer a truly international platform for Harley-Davidson to expand their global reach, and Harley-Davidson is perfectly placed to join us in bringing our sport to new audiences as we team up with one of the most iconic lifestyle brands in the U.S. This partnership has big potential for both our strategies and will deliver a real spectacle for fans, bringing a completely new flavor to the Grand Prix weekends where the series will compete.”
More details, including the calendar and how fans will be able to watch and stay up to date, will be revealed soon. Those looking to join the growing field or explore sponsorship and media opportunities can contact factoryracing@harley-davidson.com.
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