Harley-Davidson to End Support of King of the Baggers in 2027

Harley-Davidson is stepping away from factory participation in MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers championship at the conclusion of the 2026 season, bringing an end to a six-year run that helped establish the category as one of the series' most recognizable attractions.

The Motor Company announced the move Thursday as part of what it described as an evolved racing strategy for 2027. They will redirect its top-level factory focus toward the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, which it plans to expand with additional teams, riders and races next season.

Harley-Davidson's announcement specifically states that the company will conclude both its Factory Racing participation and official team support in King of the Baggers here on the homefront, leaving their international Harley-only spec series as their competition platform for road racing.

King of the Baggers grew from an invitational exhibition race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2020 into a full MotoAmerica championship. Harley-Davidson and Indian quickly went to war, with the scale of their programs helping turn heavyweight touring motorcycles into a legitimate national road racing platform, sometimes faster than superbike.

That battle will now look markedly different after 2026, leaving many to wonder what will be left of the grid when we turn up at Daytona in 2027.