Archie McDonald wins inaugural Bagger World Cup.
Australian racer Archie McDonald has claimed the first FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup title, dedicating his championship to his late brother Toby after a tense Austrian finale.
Archie McDonald is the inaugural FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup champion, securing the title by nine points after the season’s final race at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.
The Joe Rascal Racing rider finished eighth in Sunday’s decider, doing enough to hold off Niti Racing’s Oscar Gutiérrez and teammate Eric Granado. McDonald ended the season on 202 points, ahead of Gutiérrez on 193 and Granado on 192.
It was an emotional achievement for the Australian, whose season included the death of his brother Toby, two race wins, a pole position and a significant crash at Assen.
Down to the final race
Gutiérrez kept the championship fight alive with victory in Saturday’s opening race, leading McDonald and James Rispoli home. Retirements for Granado and Andrea Iannone helped McDonald take a 21-point advantage over Gutiérrez into the finale.
Granado responded on Sunday by taking the lead early and controlling the race to claim his second win of the season. Gutiérrez finished runner-up, with Kyle Wyman completing the podium.
McDonald crossed the line eighth to seal the championship. His two victories helped build the campaign, but his ability to keep collecting points ultimately made the difference against Gutiérrez, who won a series-best four races.
“I dedicate this completely to Toby”
Speaking after securing the title, McDonald reflected on the personal cost of pursuing his racing ambitions through a season of grief.
“This has been such an emotional season. After winning the opening race and, weeks later, seeing my brother pass away, it’s nothing I ever thought I’d experience. To say goodbye to him, say goodbye to my family, and go overseas to keep training and keep following this dream… it’s such a relief now that it’s paid off.
“I’m so sorry to my family and my friends that I left behind in Australia to focus on this goal. Now I’m going to celebrate with them and continue grieving, as I’ve put it in a hole in the back of my mind this whole time.
“I dedicate this completely to Toby. I love you and I miss you so much, and I keep my arms wide open to anyone who needs it. What my family has gone through is not a normal experience, but to have him on the back of my bike with me in those last few laps was the best extra weight I could have asked for in any race.
“I had the points lead from yesterday and, like I said, this is a dream come true. This is a goal come true. This is years and years of setbacks and blood, sweat and tears put into something.
“I can’t thank everyone behind the scenes enough – from my manager to my coach, to my dad, my family, my friends, the whole Bagger World Cup, and Joe Rascal Racing. I can’t thank them enough. It’s an absolute relief and a goal that we’ve achieved. And, like I said to my brother Toby: I love you and I miss you.”
A first season to remember
The inaugural championship brought Harley-Davidson Road Glide racing to the MotoGP programme, with five different race winners, every team reaching the podium and four riders still in title contention entering the final round.
The race bikes use a 2152cc Screamin’ Eagle 131R engine producing more than 200 horsepower, paired with a chassis developed by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing.
Harley-Davidson’s director of global racing programs, Jeffrey Schuessler, said the company intends to expand the championship with more teams, riders, races and markets.
For now, the first title belongs to an Australian — and, in McDonald’s words, is dedicated completely to Toby.
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
- Archie McDonald (Australia) — 202 points
- Oscar Gutiérrez (Spain) — 193 points
- Eric Granado (Brazil) — 192 points
- Andrea Iannone (Italy) — 157 points
- Jake Lewis (USA) — 117 points
