V2 party in Spielberg: The showdown between the racing Harleys at the Red Bull Ring

Motorsport fans are in for a real treat at the Red Bull Ring this year. Alongside the stars of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, the Red Bull Rookies and the riders of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will also be lining up on the starting grid in Spielberg. What’s more, both the Rookies and the Bagger World Cup will each host the final two races of the 2026 season.

The Bagger World Cup brings a touch of American flair to Styria. The new racing series will crown its first overall champion there. Five events have taken place so far – two races were held at each of the venues in Austin, Mugello, Assen, Silverstone and Aragon. The finale will now take place in Spielberg.

It is a very close contest at the top of the overall standings. After former MotoGP and Superbike rider Andrea Iannone won both races in Aragon, the Italian is right in the thick of the title race. Iannone is in fourth place and trails World Cup leader Archie McDonald from Australia by just 27 points. Currently in second and third place are the Brazilian Eric Granado and the Spaniard Oscar Gutierrez.

Two new riders on the starting grid

Two new faces will be on the starting grid at Spielberg: Americans Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli will be competing on wildcard entries. Wyman won the King of the Baggers series in the USA in 2025. At the Red Bull Ring, he will make his debut on the world stage with the Wegner Automotive x KWR (Kyle Wyman Racing) team. As one of the most successful riders in American bagger racing, Wyman brings a wealth of experience on the racing Harley. Rispoli will line up in Austria as the third rider for Joe Rascal Racing, replacing Jordi Torres for the final event. Rispoli, the Super Hooligan National Champion, brings a wealth of experience from American road racing and the King of the Baggers series.

So the stage is set for the Bagger World Cup showdown. Fans can look forward to a unique soundscape this weekend as the big V2 engines roar through the Niki Lauda corner.

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