Indian calls on Honda, BMW and Ducati to join King of the Baggers

Indian Motorcycle has challenged rival manufacturers to join MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers (KOTB) championship, even if doing so could open the door to some rather uncomfortable competition.

Indian Motorcycle CEO Mike Kennedy has called on Honda, BMW and Ducati to join the championship, as the American manufacturer looks to bolster the series following Harley-Davidson's decision to withdraw its factory racing effort.

It follows recent criticism from Indian aimed at Harley-Davidson's decision to step away from the championship. Kennedy has made it clear that his company wants to see more manufacturers on the grid, even if that means having to work harder to maintain its winning record.

“Indian Motorcycle believes in competition. Real competition. It's what makes racing meaningful, it's what makes champions, and it's what makes the sport exciting for the fans,” Kennedy said. “We want to race against the best, regardless of who builds the motorcycle. We're willing to accept the challenge, and the possibility that we won't win every race, because that's what real competition is all about.”

While that invitation might sound interesting to fans of the series, it does raise some questions about what the championship could look like in the future. MotoAmerica is already working on revised regulations for 2027, with the intention of opening KOTB to additional manufacturers. However, any new entries will still need to meet the championship's technical and competitive requirements.

The invitation comes alongside a major expansion of Indian's own racing programme, with the company announcing factory support for up to 10 teams during the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

However, it is the prospect of new manufacturers entering the championship that makes the announcement particularly interesting. Since its inception, King of the Baggers has been a two-way slugfest between two of America's most famous and historic motorcycle manufacturers. That rivalry arguably added to the spectacle of watching the enormous V-twins duking it out, cheered on by fiercely partisan crowds.

Adding more brands to the starting grid will likely increase competition and add to ‘the show’, but whether it can recreate that same sense of rivalry remains to be seen.

Could Ducati, Honda and even Triumph turn up to spoil the party?

The prospect of manufacturers such as Ducati, Honda, BMW and Triumph becoming involved in King of the Baggers raises some interesting questions about what the championship could look like in the coming years.

A race-prepared Ducati Diavel, for example, would make for an interesting addition to a grid currently dominated by American V-twin machinery. The same could be said of Triumph's enormous Rocket 3, which already has the sort of physical presence that would look at home alongside the Indian Challenger.

Neither motorcycle has been announced as a potential entrant, and there is no confirmation that either manufacturer is considering a racing programme. In fact, with Triumph already heavily invested in Moto2 and off-road racing, and Ducati seemingly involved in just about every championship going, it's difficult to imagine where manufacturers like these would find the time or inclination to take part.

For now, Indian has made its position clear. It wants more manufacturers on the grid and is prepared to put its own money behind the championship to help make that happen. Whether Honda, BMW, Ducati or anyone else is prepared to take up the challenge is another matter entirely.

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