It was a momentous day when Harley-Davidson’s King Of The Baggers joined a test session in conjunction with the elite MotoGP class at Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, Spain, this week. Screamin’ Eagle factory riders Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli were joined on their Road Glides by roadracing legends Randy Mamola, John Hopkins, Simon Crafar, and Marco Melandri.
The test was the first European track appearance of the Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide in a test that followed the season-finale MotoGP race on the 2.0-mile, 16-turn circuit, won by Pecco Bagnaia. The race was moved to Barcelona after the disastrous flooding in the Valencia region, and H-D donated a Road Glide to be auctioned off for MotoGP’s relief efforts.
“We were riding alongside our heroes, and were able to share our body of work with people we respect so much,” said Wyman. “I want to thank DORNA, Harley-Davidson, and all of the staff who worked tirelessly to put on this event in the most challenging circumstances of recent events.”
Overcast and cool conditions prevented outright lap-time attacks, but Wyman and Rispoli still exceeded 170 mph on the fastest sector of the track. After they warmed up their Road Glides, Crafar, Hopkins, Mamola, and Melandri each took sessions on the bikes and were impressed with the power and performance of the baggers.
“Man, that was so fun,” said American former GP rider John Hopkins. “It was so good. I was riding tight, but it handles so good – it’s so wild!”
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“I was just enjoying it and trying to figure out how it works,” said international racing star Simon Crafar. “The engine is just amazing, and I really like the sound. It’s unreal, and I want one as a street bike.”
“The engine and the torque is amazing,” raved Marco Melandri, the 2005 MotoGP runner-up “My laps were better and better. Once I tested the lean angle, I feel much better. It’s not so heavy, and not so big when you ride it,” he said about the 620-lb bagger.
“Racing is a core pillar of the Harley-Davidson brand, showcasing our commitment to performance and innovation,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “Partnering with DORNA/MotoGP, we aim to expand our racing footprint globally, fueling the passions of our customers and fans. This MotoGP Test is a pivotal step in realizing these ambitions and demonstrating our dedication to racing excellence.”
The Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide competes in the Mission Foods King Of The Baggers series, in which Wyman won six races and finished on the podium 14 times in 18 races this season. He finished runner-up to KOTB champ Troy Herfoss.
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