Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Completes Test at Circuit of the Americas

First announced last August, the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is set to make its debut this Saturday, March 28, during the Circuit of the Americas round of MotoGP. Earlier this month, Harley-Davidson issued an update about the four teams that will be on the grid, which includes Joe Rascal Racing (Australia, 3 bikes), Niti Racing (Indonesia, 2 bikes), ParkinGO Team (Italy, 1 bike), and Saddlemen Racing (USA, 3 bikes), along with their roster of racers. The press release below summarizes the results of the first official test.

Austin, Texas (March 22, 2026) – This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup completed the first test in the history of the championship at the Circuit of the Americas, just days ahead of its inaugural race weekend at the same venue during the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas.

The series officially kicked off with the bike lottery ceremony, where each rider received the race machine that will accompany them throughout the season. Over the following two intense days of adrenaline-filled track action, all nine confirmed riders experienced for the first time the unmistakable sound and character of the Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin powered Road Glide race machines. Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Team) set the fastest lap of the test with a best time of 2’13.413, finishing half a second ahead of his teammate Archie McDonald, with Oscar Gutierrez (Niti Racing) completing the top three.

Sunday’s schedule also included a shortened race simulation, allowing teams and riders to rehearse the distinctive start procedure that will define race weekends, with garages located inside the fan zone to bring spectators directly into the racing environment. 

Jeffrey Schuessler, Director of Global Racing Programs at Harley-Davidson:
“This first test represented an important milestone for the championship and for everyone involved in the series. Across the weekend the riders completed 578 timed laps, which gave us very positive feedback in terms of reliability and overall performance. It was also exciting to see the riders experience for the first time the sound, torque and unique performance of these race bikes. We noticed interesting differences in riding styles, with some riders bringing a smooth and technical approach, while others showed a more aggressive point-and-shoot style. It was a valuable moment of comparison and learning, allowing teams and riders to deepen their understanding of the racing bikes, the track and each other ahead of the first races.”

Eric Granado – Joe Rascal Racing
“This test was amazing. We completed a lot of laps and spent a lot of time working on the bike to understand it better. Everything was new for me, a new machine, a new team, and a different way of working, and the bike is very different from what I was used to. The riding position is quite unique and you need some time to adapt, but after a few laps you start to feel comfortable and build confidence. The bike behaves very well and you can really push it to the limit, which I enjoyed a lot. You can clearly feel that it is built as a true race machine. The sound of the engine is incredible, honestly one of the best I have ever heard. For a rider it is very special to feel that kind of character. I also had a very good feeling from the front, which helps you carry a lot of corner speed on entry. The torque is very impressive. Every time you open the throttle, in any gear, you feel strong power that pushes you out of the corners very quickly. You need to adapt your riding style a bit, but once you understand how to use it, you can really push and enjoy it. We are on a good path. We worked through many setup options and now we are getting ready for the first race. It was important to test on the same track where we will race, so we already have some useful references.”

Attention now turns to the opening round of the championship, which will take place next weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, with practice and qualifying on Friday, March 27, followed by Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday.

COTA TEST 21st – 22nd MARCH
Event Best Time Combined Classification