Harley expands Bagger World Cup to eight rounds for 2027
Harley-Davidson is expanding its Bagger World Cup schedule for 2027, adding two rounds to the championship’s second season and bringing the series to three new MotoGP venues.
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Tuned by Dynojet will feature eight rounds and 16 races across seven countries, beginning April 23-25 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The season will conclude Oct. 1-3 at Portimão, Portugal. The expanded calendar includes stops at Le Mans in France, Barcelona in Spain and Portimão in Portugal. The series also will return to Mugello in Italy, Assen in the Netherlands, the Red Bull Ring in Austria and MotorLand Aragón in Spain.
Harley expects combined attendance at the MotoGP events hosting the championship to increase from more than 800,000 in 2026 to approximately 1.3 million in 2027, an increase of nearly 60%, according to Jeffrey Schuessler, the company’s director of global racing programs.
“We’re expanding the Bagger World Cup to eight rounds and 16 races, including three new venues,” Schuessler says. “More rounds, more teams, more riders, more fans and more racing. That’s our ambition for the championship’s second season.”
Each round will include two full-points races, one qualifying session and two free practice sessions. An official preseason test is scheduled for April 17-18 at COTA.
The 2027 provisional team entry list includes five organizations fielding 11 motorcycles:
- Joe Rascal: Three motorcycles
- Saddlemen Race Development: Three motorcycles
- Niti Racing: Three motorcycles
- Kyle Wyman Racing: One motorcycle
- Mad Monkey/Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson: One motorcycle
Harley said rider signings are being finalized, with announcements expected in the coming weeks. Discussions also are continuing with additional organizations.
Race motorcycle updates
The 2027 race motorcycles will receive several performance and handling updates following the series’ inaugural season. Harley expects approximately 2% to 3% more horsepower, with the engine rev limit increasing from 7,000 to 7,200 rpm. The gearbox also will receive updates, including a new Dynojet quickshifter sensor developed in collaboration with H-D.
Other changes include revised fork caps to allow increased front ride height, upgraded rear shocks with independently adjustable damping and a redesigned swingarm intended to improve rear-wheel grip.
The motorcycles also will feature active tire-pressure monitoring. Additional development work is underway on aerodynamic bodywork, rider ergonomics and adjustments to handlebar controls, foot positions and seating configurations. All technical updates will be made available to competitors to maintain the series’ spec-racing format.
Jason Kehl, technical director and team principal of Harley-Davidson Factory Racing, said feedback from the participating teams helped shape several of the changes.
“Their feedback helps us identify opportunities for improvement, and some of the 2027 updates, including the increased rev limit and revised fork caps, are direct results of that collaboration,” Kehl says.
Harley-Davidson also views the racing program as an opportunity to develop and validate technology that could eventually make its way into production motorcycles and Screamin’ Eagle performance products.
Dynojet becomes presenting sponsor
Dynojet, a longtime technical and racing partner, will become the championship’s presenting sponsor for 2027. The series will officially compete under the name FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Tuned by Dynojet. Dunlop will also continue as the championship’s official tire supplier, providing racing tires, trackside technical support and logistics throughout the international schedule. The company will continue supporting the series’ racing contingency program.
COTA fan packages
Harley is offering a dedicated three-day Fan Experience Pass for the April 23-25 season opener at COTA. The package includes reserved seating in the Harley-Davidson Grandstand at Turn 15, dedicated motorcycle parking, secure riding gear storage and a parade lap on the circuit using participants’ own motorcycles. Additional benefits include rider question-and-answer sessions, Bagger World Cup paddock tours, autograph opportunities, access to Harley-Davidson Factory Racing hospitality and Screamin’ Eagle activations, and a gift bag.
The 2027 provisional Bagger World Cup schedule:
- Round 1: April 23-25 – United States Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
- Round 2: May 14-16 – French Grand Prix, Le Mans, France
- Round 3: May 28-30 – Italian Grand Prix, Mugello, Italy
- Round 4: June 11-13 – Catalan Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain
- Round 5: June 25-27 – Dutch Grand Prix, Assen, Netherlands
- Round 6: Aug. 27-29 – Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring, Austria
- Round 7: Sept. 17-19 – Aragón Grand Prix, MotorLand Aragón, Spain
- Round 8: Oct. 1-3 – Portuguese Grand Prix, Portimão, Portugal
