Saddlemen Race Development Leaves King of the Baggers for 2027

After competing in MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers since the series' very first race in 2020, Saddlemen Race Development will direct its undivided attention to the new global FIM-sanctioned Bagger World Cup.

Saddlemen Corporation announced on October 1 that Saddlemen Race Development will focus its undivided attention on the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.

The decision follows six full seasons of competition in MotoAmerica's Mission King of the Baggers series, where Saddlemen Race Development has been a fixture since the very first King of the Baggers race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2020.

Saddlemen's 2026 domestic program fielded riders Cory West, Jake Lewis, and James Rispoli aboard Saddlemen Drag Specialties Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited motorcycles in King of the Baggers, alongside a championship-caliber Super Hooligan effort on the Harley-Davidson Pan America ST.

The future of their Super Hooligan program hangs in the balance as it wasn't directly mentioned in their announcement, however sources say it's not lookin good for the program.

The move comes on the heels of Harley-Davidson's announcement that it will conclude its Factory Racing participation and official team support in King of the Baggers after the 2026 season, shifting its focus to the Bagger World Cup.

With both the factory team and one of the class's original privateer efforts heading to the global stage, the King of the Baggers paddock will look markedly different in 2027.