Bagger World Cup, Round 2: Granado wins – Archie McDonald is champion

The Spaniard Oscar Gutierrez took victory in the first race at the Red Bull Ring. He won on Saturday, finishing 0.885 seconds ahead of Archie McDonald. Third place went to the American wildcard rider James Rispoli.

A preliminary verdict had been reached in the title race. After Race 1, McDonald held a 21-point lead over Gutierrez in the overall standings. Eric Granado and Andrea Iannone were out of the title race after Race 1. As early as the second lap, the Italian Granado went off the track when he tried to squeeze past on the inside at Turn 6 – both riders flew high through the gravel trap. The incident had consequences for ‘The Maniac’: he must complete a long lap in the second race.

Race 2, the final race of 2026, saw Granado once again start from pole position. McDonald and Iannone lined up alongside the Brazilian on the front row. Gutierrez started the race from fourth on the grid. James Rispoli and Maxwell Toth were alongside him. The third row was made up of Kyle Wyman, Travis Wyman and Jake Lewis. Dimas Ekky Pratama and Max Flinders started from the fourth row.

At the start of the race, the air temperature was a chilly 10 degrees Celsius. The track was only 13 degrees. Granado got off to the best start. McDonald and Iannone settled into second and third places respectively. Gutierrez was fourth.

On the first lap, Granado managed to build up a small lead. Iannone tried to get past McDonald, but the Australian fought back. On the start-finish straight, Iannone and Gutierrez overtook McDonald. Kyle Wyman also overtook the championship leader after a few corners.

Granado set the fastest lap of the race. At the start of lap 3, Iannone served his long-lap penalty; Gutierrez was now in second place. Granado had by then built up a lead of 1.6 seconds. McDonald was sixth, whilst Iannone was in eighth place.

On the third lap, Granado once again set the fastest lap of the race. Gutierrez was already almost three seconds behind. Kyle Wyman was third. McDonald had dropped back to seventh.

At the start of the fifth lap, Iannone overtook McDonald. Gutierrez set the fastest lap of the race. The Spaniard had reduced his deficit to 1.8 seconds.

The order at the start of lap 6: Granado, Gutierrez, Kyle Wyman, Rispoli, Toth, Iannone, Lewis and McDonald.

Wyman, Rispoli and Toth were locked in a close battle for third place. The gap between Granado and Gutierrez remained constant.

Granado once again set the fastest lap of the race. First and second places were secured, whilst the battle for the final podium spot was thrilling.

Gutierrez set the fastest lap of the race, but the gap to Granado was still 1.8 seconds on the final lap. The two riders posted very similar lap times.

Eric Granado won with a 1.966-second lead over Oscar Gutierrez. Kyle Wyman snatched third place. Archie McDonald clinched his first title in the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup! He was the most consistent rider across the twelve races.