GRANADO AND GUTIÉRREZ SHARE ASSEN HONORS AS BAGGER WORLD CUP TITLE FIGHT TIGHTENS
Joe Rascal Racing and Niti Racing split victories in the Dutch round as the championship reaches its halfway point with just two points separating the top two riders.
ASSEN, Netherlands (June 28, 2026) – The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup completed the first half of its inaugural season this weekend at the legendary TT Circuit Assen, as the championship joined the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of the Netherlands for Round 3 of the season.
Riders and machines were pushed to their limits throughout the weekend, with track temperatures exceeding 54°C (129°F) during the hottest sessions of the event.
Qualifying
Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) continued his remarkable qualifying form by securing pole position for the third consecutive round with a lap of 1:40.655, further establishing himself as the category's undisputed pole specialist.
Race 1
Saturday's opening race delivered one of the closest battles seen so far this season. For much of the race, as many as six riders remained in contention for victory, exchanging positions and running nose-to-tail in an intense fight at the front.
Despite losing ground at the start, Granado remained calm and gradually fought his way back to the front before eventually claiming his maiden Bagger World Cup victory after coming close on several previous occasions.
Second place went to Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing), who secured his fourth podium finish of the season and valuable championship points. Completing the podium was teammate Andrea Iannone, who continued his impressive adaptation to the championship by securing another podium finish aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide race machine.
Race 2
Sunday's race belonged to Oscar Gutiérrez. Starting from third position on the grid, the Spaniard made an exceptional launch and seized the lead at Turn 1, before controlling the race from the front all the way to the checkered flag to secure his third victory of the season.
Behind him, Andrea Iannone delivered another intelligent and mature performance, avoiding unnecessary risks and collecting important championship points with second place.
Completing the podium was Race 1 winner Eric Granado, who added another strong result to his weekend and, most importantly, moved into the lead of the championship standings.
Granado also left Assen with another important milestone, setting a lap of 1:40.424 on the third lap of Race 2, establishing both a new race lap record and a new all-time Bagger World Cup lap record for the TT Circuit Assen.
The highest speed recorded during the weekend belonged to Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team), who reached 248.2 km/h (154.2 mph) during Friday's Free Practice 2 session.
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson
"Assen delivered exactly what the Bagger World Cup was created for. Racing in front of almost 200,000 MotoGP fans and in extremely demanding conditions with track temperatures exceeding 54°C, we saw these motorcycles continue to perform at an incredibly high level.
Six riders fighting for victory in Race 1, two different winners across the weekend and only two points separating the top two riders in the championship show how competitive and unpredictable this series has already become.
The response from the public was equally impressive. The Harley-Davidson Village and our paddock in the heart of the fan zone remained busy throughout the weekend, confirming the strong interest this championship is generating among MotoGP fans.
Now we head to Silverstone with the title fight completely open and with growing momentum behind the series. Bringing the Bagger World Cup to another iconic MotoGP venue and one of Europe's most important motorcycle markets will be another exciting step for the championship."
Eric Granado – Joe Rascal Racing
Race 1 Winner
"That was a fantastic race and a very special victory for me. We worked really well throughout the entire weekend and I felt comfortable with the bike from the first session. Unfortunately, I made a mistake with the gearing at the start and lost some positions, but I stayed calm and focused on my race pace. I knew I had the speed to come back. Lap after lap I managed to recover, take the lead and then control the gap until the finish. After three consecutive pole positions, finally taking the first victory feels amazing and is a great reward for all the work the team has done."
Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing
Race 2 Winner
"Overall, it has been a very positive weekend. We didn't start in the best way after a crash on Friday, but the team worked incredibly hard to put us in the best possible position for the races. We usually focus more on race pace than on qualifying performance, and today it paid off. I had a very clear strategy: make a good start, get to the front as early as possible and try to control the race from there. For the first time this season I managed to make the start I wanted, taking the lead already at Turn 1. From that moment I focused on riding my own race and managing the gap, especially when Andrea Iannone started pushing very hard behind me in the second half of the race. Winning after a difficult Friday makes this result even more satisfying. I want to thank the whole team for their hard work, and now we look forward to Silverstone."
Championship Standings after Round 3
- Eric Granado (BRA) – 111 points
- Oscar Gutiérrez (ESP) – 109 points
- Archie McDonald (AUS) – 97 points
- Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 74 points
- Jake Lewis (USA) – 71 points
- Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 66 points
- Cory West (USA) – 56 points
- Travis Wyman (USA) – 39 points
- Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 37 points
- Cody Wyman (USA) – 26 points
- Jordi Torres (ESP) – 24 points
The championship now heads to the United Kingdom for the next chapter of the season, as the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup visits Silverstone Circuit for the MotoGP™ British Grand Prix from August 7–9.
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About FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP™ and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP™ calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a premier global racing environment. The championship combines heritage, technical innovation, and on-track competition, extending the brand’s racing legacy onto the world stage. Learn more on the dedicated FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup page at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
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Media Contacts:
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