Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup 2027: 16 races and two new teams

In 2026, the first season of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup took place as part of the MotoGP World Championship. A total of twelve races were held across six events in Austin, Mugello, Assen, Silverstone, Aragon and Spielberg. At the Red Bull Ring, Australian Archie McDonald was crowned the first overall winner.

The starting grid was relatively small this year, comprising four teams and around ten riders – depending on whether wildcard riders were taking part or not. For Harley-Davidson, it was a debut season to gain experience on the global stage. The US manufacturer has consistently emphasised its intention to expand the series in the coming years – by 2027, there are set to be more teams, riders and races.

Eight race weekends: three new circuits, one track dropped

The long-established brand from Milwaukee is following up on this announcement with concrete action. On 4 November, Harley unveiled the race calendar for the 2027 season at EICMA in Milan. This now comprises eight events – four more races than before. As in 2026, the season will kick off in Austin (23 to 25 April). A week before the season starts, a two-day pre-season test will take place at the Circuit of the Americas. Le Mans is a new addition to the calendar, with Races 3 and 4 taking place there in mid-May. Two weeks later, the action continues at Mugello in Italy. Mid-June sees the fourth round in Barcelona – the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a new addition to the calendar. From 25 to 27 June, the action moves to the TT Circuit in Assen. After a two-month break, Races 11 and 12 will then be held in Spielberg at the end of August. From 17 to 19 September, the action moves to MotorLand Aragón. The 2027 season finale will take place in early October in Portimão. The Portuguese rollercoaster circuit is also a new addition to the Bagger World Cup calendar. Silverstone will no longer host a race next year.

“For 2027, we are expanding the Bagger World Cup to eight events and 16 races, including three new venues. More events, more teams, more riders, more fans and more racing action. That is our goal for the championship’s second season,” emphasises Jeffrey Schuessler, Director of Global Racing Programmes at Harley-Davidson. With well-attended race weekends such as Le Mans, the motorbike manufacturer also reaches a large target audience. “The calendar will be expanded by two rounds, whilst the total number of spectators at our events is expected to increase by almost 60 per cent – from over 800,000 in 2026 to around 1.3 million in 2027.”

Jeffrey Schuessler

Foto: Harley-Davidson

Two new teams, one no longer taking part

In 2026, four teams competed in the new racing series: Joe Rascal Racing (Australia), Saddlemen Race Development (USA), Niti Racing (Indonesia) and Cecchini Racing Garage (Italy). Cecchini will no longer be part of the series in 2027, but two new teams – Kyle Wyman Racing and Mad Monkey – will be joining. The two new teams will each line up on the starting grid with one motorbike. Joe Rascal, Saddlemen and Niti Racing will each field three bikes.

The participation of these five teams has been confirmed, whilst discussions with further teams are still ongoing. Several rider contracts have already been signed; official announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

The Harley race bike is set to become even more powerful

The racing motorbike for the 2027 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup features a number of technical improvements developed over the course of the first season, as well as further innovations currently in development.

Harley promises more engine power for the coming season – there is talk of a 2 to 3 per cent increase in PS, with the maximum revs raised from 7,000 to 7,200 rpm. This season, Harley stated the power output as around 200 PS.

There are also improvements to the gearbox, including a new Dynojet Quickshifter sensor, developed in collaboration with Harley-Davidson. Optimisations to the front fork, an improved rear shock absorber with independently adjustable damping settings, and a revised swingarm designed to improve rear-wheel grip were also mentioned.

Harley has also stepped up its game in terms of electronics: a new active tyre pressure monitoring system has been introduced to provide teams and riders with additional information. Furthermore, the bike’s durability is said to have been improved. Further developments are underway and will be unveiled in due course, including updates to aerodynamics and bodywork: The aim is to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve handling. Ergonomics for riders are also said to have been optimised: more adjustment options for the handlebar controls, footrests and seat configurations are promised, to better cater to riders’ individual preferences.

“From the very beginning, we have viewed the Bagger World Cup as a racing programme that never stands still. We are constantly seeking greater performance, whether through increased engine power, improved rear-wheel grip, refined suspension or optimised rider ergonomics. That is part of our development philosophy,” emphasises Jason Kehl, Technical Director and Team Principal at Harley-Davidson Factory Racing. “One of the advantages of having multiple teams competing on the same motorbike is the technical insight we gain from their different approaches and experiences. Their feedback helps us identify areas for improvement, and some of the updates for 2027 – including the increased rev limit and the revised fork – are direct results of this collaboration. We combine their suggestions with our own development work to ensure that every improvement benefits all participants. Beyond the championship, racing enables us to develop and validate technical solutions under demanding conditions. The data and experience we gather in the process can be incorporated into future Harley-Davidson production motorcycles as well as into Screamin’ Eagle performance products. This is a key part of the value of this racing programme.”

Jason Kehl

Foto: Harley-Davidson