Harley-Davidson crowns first-ever Bagger World Cup champion in Austria

Harley-Davidson has crowned Archie McDonald as the first-ever FIM Bagger World Cup Champion in Austria. 

The Joe Rascal Racing rider headed the championship going into the season-finale at the Red Bull Ring, and after title rivals Andrea Iannone and Eric Granado both retired from race one, McDonald’s path to clinching the title became a lot clearer.

McDonald still had to contend with another title rival in Niti Racing’s Oscar Gutierrez, who clinched victory in race one of the weekend.

Despite an eighth place finish in race two, McDonald did just enough to hold off Gutierrez by nine points.

Gutierrez claimed second place in race two behind Granado, who finished just one point behind the Spaniard in the standings. 

2026 marked the first year of the new Bagger World Cup series, which delivered close racing throughout. 

The championship is a Harley-Davidson-focused interpretation of the King of the Baggers series in the United States, which features Harley and Indian motorcycles.

Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson, said this following the conclusion of the inaugural Bagger World Cup:

“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Archie McDonald as the first FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Champion. Congratulations to him and the entire Joe Rascal Racing team on an incredible achievement. And just as importantly, thank you to every rider, team, partner and person who believed in this program and helped us bring it to life.

“One year ago, we were here in Austria announcing this championship. We didn’t have teams, riders or even the race motorcycles yet. We had an idea, a plan and a lot of ambition. Today, we have a global racing series competing alongside MotoGP, with teams and riders from around the world. It’s pretty incredible to see how far we’ve come.

“This first season was about building the foundation and proving what this series could be, and the racing delivered beyond our expectations: five different race winners, every team on the podium and four riders arriving at the final round still fighting for the title. At the same time, seeing Harley-Davidson shirts throughout the MotoGP paddock and grandstands, and watching two very different motorcycle communities come together around the racing, has been incredibly rewarding.”

Despite being a new series, the Bagger World Cup attracted huge names such as Iannone and, for the final round, 2025 King of the Baggers champion Kyle Wyman.

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