McDonald dedicated his victory to his late brother: “I love and miss you!”

An eighth-place finish in the final race of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup season was enough for Archie McDonald to clinch the title on Sunday in Spielberg. The Australian is the first champion of the new racing series, which held its inaugural season in 2026.

After 12 races this season, McDonald had 202 points to his name – nine more than Spain’s Oscar Gutierrez. Third place in the final standings went to Brazil’s Eric Granado.

McDonald, aged just 20, was the most consistent rider throughout the year. At the season opener in Austin, he won the very first race of the Bagger World Cup. He finished third in Race 2 in Texas. This was followed by two third-place finishes at the second event in Mugello. At Assen, he finished fourth and fifth – in the Netherlands, he also had to cope with a heavy crash. After finishing second in the first race, he secured his second victory in Race 2 at Silverstone. At Aragon, McDonald stood on the podium twice more. Finishing second and eighth at the Red Bull Ring was enough for him to clinch the title.

After Archie McDonald crossed the finish line at Spielberg and was confirmed as the first champion of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, he let his emotions run free. He cheered and wept; even during the subsequent winner’s interview at the circuit, he couldn’t hold back the tears – such was his joy at his achievement.

Archie McDonald zeigte 2026 am meisten Konstanz

Foto: Harley-Davidson

At the press conference in the Media Centre at the Red Bull Ring, ‘Maddog’ – as he is also known – sang a few songs for the journalists present. He performed rock songs such as ‘We Are the Champions’ by Queen. Emotions overwhelmed the young racer. Alongside his successes in the Excavator World Cup, McDonald also had to cope with a severe personal tragedy this year. His brother Toby died in the spring. In memory of Toby, Archie competed at Assen with his team, Joe Rascal Racing, sporting a special livery.

An emotional season

“It’s been such an emotional season. Winning the opening race and then, just a few weeks later, having to cope with my brother’s death – I could never have imagined that. Saying goodbye to him, saying goodbye to my family and going overseas to carry on training and pursue this dream … it’s such a relief that it’s now paid off,” emphasised Archie McDonald. “I’m so sorry for my family and friends, whom I left behind in Australia to focus on this goal. Now I’m going to celebrate with them and continue to process my grief, because I’ve been pushing it to the very back of my mind the whole time.”

These were very candid words that poured out of Archie in Spielberg. “I dedicate this victory entirely to Toby. I love you and miss you so much, and I’m keeping my arms wide open for anyone who needs them,” McDonald continued. “What my family has been through is no ordinary experience, but having him with me on the back of my motorbike during the final laps was the best extra weight I could ever have wished for in any race.”

McDonald: Successes in flat track and the Supersport class

Winning the championship is a huge source of satisfaction for McDonald. “It’s a dream come true. It’s been years and years of setbacks, blood, sweat and tears poured into this,” he said. “I can’t thank everyone behind the scenes enough – from my manager and my coach to my dad, my family, my friends, the whole Bagger World Cup team and Joe Rascal Racing. I can’t thank them enough. It’s an absolute relief and a goal we’ve achieved. And as I said to my brother Toby: ‘I love you and I miss you!’”

McDonald, who at his young age is already a five-time Australian flat-track champion and finished fifth overall in the JuniorGP Superstock 600 standings in 2023, said at the end of the press conference that he was going to get drunk for now. He had the chance to do just that on Sunday evening at Harley-Davidson’s big end-of-season party at the Schönberghof by the race track. The celebrations were in true style, set to rock music by Iron Maiden and AC/DC. Cool!

Archie McDonald bei der Harley-Party am Sonntagabend

Foto: Harley-Davidson