The King Of The Baggers series resumed at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta April 20-21, and Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss came away with wins in both races of the double-header in Georgia.
Herfoss, a three-time Australian Superbike champion, has been a revelation in the King Of The Baggers series. Each track is new to him, so he’s learned his way around them by playing video games. The tactic is working. He set pole position at Road Atlanta by a large margin, and then he took victory in the 2-lap Mission Foods Challenge race ahead of the double-header feature races.
In Saturday’s 8-lap feature, the Aussie headed the field on the first lap ahead of Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman, reigning KOTB champ Hayden Gillim, Indian teammate Tyler O’Hara, and Wyman’s Screamin’ Eagle teammate, James Rispoli.
Wyman, the series points leader, appeared to be up to the challenge, taking the lead on the track’s back straight on the first circuit, then setting the fastest lap on Lap 2. But Herfoss responded on the next lap, overtaking Wyman and holding the lead all the way to the checkered flag. Wyman held on for the runner-up position ahead of Gillim and O’Hara.
“It has been absolutely incredible to witness Troy’s success, as each and every track is brand new to him,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Troy’s early success is a testament to our team in S&S, as they have done an incredible job of dialing in the Indian Challenger and allowing Troy to go out, focus on the track, and showcase his skills.”
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Sunday’s Race 2 held a bit of drama, as rain earlier in the day left the technical track with several damp patches before the race, causing the field to start the race on rain tires. Well, all except for the factory Indians, which bravely had slick tires fitted for the race.
Herfoss again took the holeshot, but unsure of the track’s grip, he gingerly navigated Turn 1, allowing Gillim to assume the lead on the corner’s exit. Wyman slotted into 3rd place.
But the track had only a few damp sections, and the grippier race tires on the Indians began to pay dividends on all the dry parts. Herfoss went back into the lead halfway through the lap and went on to romp to an easy win.
Meanwhile, likeable privateer Max Flinders eased his Mad Monkey Indian Challenger past Wyman into 3rd, despite an injury he suffered in the Superbike race. O’Hara, also on slicks, used the extra grip to pass Rispoli, Gillim, and Flinders to assume the runner-up position.
The battle between Flinders and Gillim raged throughout the race, each struggling with grip issues but neither backing off. Flinders didn’t want to relinquish the final podium spot to Gillim, and he went full-lock sideways in a wet corner but stayed on board to score the second podium result of his KOTB career – he also nabbed a 3rd place in the final race of 2023 at the wet event in New Jersey.
Herfoss rode past the checked flag with a huge gap over teammate O’Hara, with Flinders a farther 13 seconds in arrears. It was a 1-2-3 finish for Indian Challengers, with Wyman ending up in 5th behind Gillim.
Herfoss has vaulted to the top of the championship standings after three wins and three second-place finishes through six races, now with 135 points to Wyman’s 126. O’Hara and Rispoli are tied for 3rd at 79 points. The Baggers resume action on May 31 at Road America in Harley’s Wisconsin backyard.
