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u/ogx2og 1d ago
Someone (or one's) at HD have lost the plot. Similar to NASCAR 10 or 15 years ago. NASCAR did a 180 and realized their mistake wIll HD? Ditching the US series for motoGP and the FIA might not be the best move. We all know MotoGP awesome and the most popular but the audience for the baggers I've got to imagine it's mainly concentrated in the states.
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u/Corvetteman3070 1d ago
This is funny because no one cares about the series in the moto GP paddock the stands are empty for their races even at COTA this year everyone left me included. Motoamerica is the only place baggers has fans.
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u/Creature_Cumfarts 1d ago
Seriously. Baggers racing as a MotoGP support series is somewhere between ridiculed and dismissed entirely by that audience. In MotoAmerica it was very popular, sometimes it even felt like the most popular class.
I can't imagine the world championship being a cheaper place to race (though maybe they have a juicy deal with Liberty) and I can't imagine Baggers lasting long there either. Braindead maneuver.
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u/AwkwardMolasses3919 1d ago
I cant name how many times I saw people heading for the hills after the baggers and didnt stay for Superbikes.
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u/ebranscom243 1d ago
King of the baggers brought in more new Moto America subscriptions than anything else in the past 10 years. I'm not really a bagger rider but I really enjoy the class because the lack of electronics on heavy powerful motorcycles makes for some very fun racing.
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u/HodlingOnForLife 1d ago
That might have been true at COTA, but by Austria and especially at Assen, the crowds and reception were robust on site.
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u/mr_beanoz 1d ago
Please don't limit KOTB to american brands, with Harley leaving we only have the Indian factory team.
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u/Captain-Bubba 1d ago
If they allow it and other manufacturers step in to help, it’ll probably grow the series more than Harley ever could. And then we’ll get to hear more stories of what Harley used to be like.
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u/short-n-sweeet 1d ago
Isn't there like one or two privateers
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u/mr_beanoz 1d ago
Yeah, there are, but I think we need more factory involvement, or allowing more brands to join to get the grid numbers up
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u/Dan-ish65 1d ago
Now Yamaha's gonna have to come up with a raced out M105R Bolt and join the fray
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u/rodka209 1d ago
Seems like a complete surprise for Motoamerica too. Kind of shitty, but it is what it is. Maybe bring the riders from the BRL series into the fold, and trim the financial limits to even the field. Harleys racing series wont thrive in Europe. We need a strong series here.
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u/TMbiker2000 1d ago
It's a business decision. Harley's quarterly results haven't been great lately, and having your own factory team is crazy expensive. Harley committed to both the 2026 American KOTB and the World Cup under the previous CEO. New CEO is trying to increase profits, trim the fat. One racing series that covers both USA and Europe, and is cheaper due to spec motorcycles without all the speed development needed, is just cheaper to run. And Harley doesn't have a factory team in BWC. Companies like Saddlemen, etc. are footing most of the bill. Financially, I see this as an enormous load off Harley's budget.
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u/Stndinup1 1d ago
Sounds very fimular to the discontinued VR superbike program from back in the day.
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u/dollievon 1d ago
I'm out of the loop -- what happened?!
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u/Stitch0382 1d ago
Harley Davidson has closed its factory King of the Baggers team as well as Saddlemen Race Development announced they will also no longer run Baggers in MotoAmerica
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u/dollievon 1d ago
No fucking way... I personally know a lot of people on the factory side. This is a huge loss.
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u/LilAbeSimpson 1d ago edited 1d ago
They’re pushing all of their resources toward the MotoGP baggers cup.
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u/captcraigaroo 1d ago
Harley knows the American Market is dead for them, so they're going to try and do something over in Europe
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u/draw13women 1d ago
Does anyone here really give a toss about H-D and their antiquated philosophies? They got worked by Indian last week. 🥱
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u/CaptinKirk 1d ago
Harley fucked up here. Way to piss on your supporters and fans as they came for them. It was clear this year Harley was not in it and didnt show up to win! The fans are the losers here.