Kyle Wyman’s victory in the final race of the 2026 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park may have been a high point — but his words suggest it could also be the end of Harley-Davidson’s factory presence in the series. Wyman, who topped the series with 27 career wins and two King of the Baggers titles, described the achievement with a sense of finality, saying: "This team has changed my life and changed my career. This one's going to feel really good for a long time." He added, "How can you sum up what we've done with this program? You just can't. We've created a lot of memories and impacted a lot of people in a positive way."
Harley-Davidson’s press release stopped short of confirming any withdrawal, but the tone from its riders hints strongly at a possible exit. Wyman noted, "The fans have been incredible. It’s great to give them one more win," which reads like a farewell rather than a promise of continuation. His teammate Bradley Smith, who finished second overall in the 2026 championship, acknowledged “an unfortunate situation that is unfolding,” telling Road Race Report it probably means he will “need to look elsewhere for next year.” Smith expressed a desire to remain connected with Harley-Davidson through the Bagger World Cup at Silverstone, but the situation appears uncertain.
King of the Baggers began as a single race in 2020 at Laguna Seca, with Tyler O’Hara winning on an Indian Challenger. From 2021, it became a full MotoAmerica series, featuring only Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. The competition has seen the manufacturers swap the title evenly: Harley-Davidson won in 2021, 2023, and 2025, while Indian took 2022, 2024, and 2026. Indian’s 2026 victory came via Hayden Gillim and the Vance & Hines team, who had switched from Harley-Davidson to Indian this season.
Harley-Davidson’s involvement in the Bagger World Cup, a single-manufacturer series created in partnership with MotoGP to bring bagger racing to a global audience, might explain the potential shift in focus away from MotoAmerica’s domestic championship. Concentrating resources on the international series could be more appealing than continuing a two-manufacturer battle on home soil.
The departure of Harley-Davidson from King of the Baggers would leave Indian as the sole factory-backed manufacturer at the top level of the class. Indian has already confirmed Hayden Gillim and 2024 champion Troy Herfoss will return for the 2027 season. For MotoAmerica, losing Harley-Davidson’s factory entry would impact the series significantly. While privateers might keep Harley-Davidson machines racing, the long-term outlook could see King of the Baggers becoming a spec series dominated by Indian Challengers.
Mike Kennedy’s role as Indian’s CEO, having previously led Vance & Hines for four years, may have been a factor behind the shifts in team allegiance this season, but any direct connection to Harley-Davidson’s possible exit remains unconfirmed.
Harley-Davidson has not issued an official statement regarding its plans for the 2027 season. Meanwhile, the 2026 season closed with Wyman’s win at New Jersey Motorsports Park, an event that may stand as the last hurrah for the factory Road Glide in King of the Baggers.
According to Yahoo Sports.
