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Archie McDonald sealed the inaugural FIM Harley‑Davidson Bagger World Cup title at the Red Bull Ring, closing a season-long fight that went down to the final race. The Joe Rascal Racing rider finished eighth in Race 2 to secure the championship by a narrow margin over Oscar Gutiérrez and Eric Granado.
Title decided in Austria
The championship came to a dramatic finish during the MotoGP weekend at Spielberg. After Oscar Gutiérrez won Race 1, McDonald took second to carry a 21‑point lead into the final outing. On Sunday, Eric Granado dominated Race 2 from the front, but McDonald’s eighth‑place finish delivered the points he needed to clinch the crown.
Numbers that mattered
McDonald ended the season on 202 points. Gutiérrez finished second with 193 points, while Granado completed the podium on 192 points. Across the inaugural campaign, McDonald recorded two wins and one pole, combining speed with consistent scoring to outlast rivals across varied circuits.
McDonald on a season marked by highs and tragedy
The Australian’s year mixed strong results with personal hardship. McDonald acknowledged the emotional toll while reflecting on the title. He dedicated his victory to his brother, saying in part: “I dedicate this completely to Toby. I love you and I miss you.”
How the main contenders fared
Oscar Gutiérrez produced the most race wins of the season, four in total, and grabbed a pole position. His aggressive style and overtakes made him a constant threat, though crashes at key moments cost valuable points. A commanding Race 1 victory in Austria extended his title bid to the last laps.
Eric Granado combined speed with reliability, taking two victories and a championship‑leading four poles. After retiring in Race 1 at the Red Bull Ring, he bounced back on Sunday to lead from the start and take the final race win.
Voices from Harley‑Davidson
Jeffrey Schuessler, Harley‑Davidson’s Director of Global Racing Programs, praised the debut season and the teams involved. “We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Archie McDonald as the first FIM Harley‑Davidson Bagger World Cup Champion,” he said, noting how quickly the series moved from concept to a global category alongside MotoGP.
Technical Director Jason Kehl highlighted the performance of the new machines and the work behind them, describing the project as the beginning of a broader development plan going into the next season.
Final 2026 standings
- Archie McDonald (AUS) – 202 points
- Oscar Gutiérrez (SPA) – 193 points
- Eric Granado (BRA) – 192 points
- Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 157 points
- Jake Lewis (USA) – 117 points
- Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 99 points
- Travis Wyman (USA) – 83 points
- Jordi Torres (SPA) – 77 points
- Maxwell Toth (USA) – 62 points
- Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 60 points
- Cory West (USA) – 56 points
- Bradley Smith (GBR) – 36 points
- Kyle Wyman (USA) – 29 points
- James Rispoli (USA) – 29 points
- Cody Wyman (USA) – 26 points
- Max Flinders (USA) – 14 points
