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Archie McDonald won the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup race 2 Sunday afternoon at Silverstone Circuit, in England. Riding his Joe Rascal Racing Harley-Davidson on Dunlop control tires, the Australian rider won the 7-lap race by 0.757 second.
His teammates, Eric Granado was the runner-up and Jordi Torres got third.
Riding for Saddlemen Racing Harley-Davidson, American teammates Max Toth, Jake Lewis and Travis Wyman finished 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively.
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup:
Smith and McDonald share Silverstone honors.
Bradley Smith delivers a memorable home victory while Archie McDonald takes pole, sets a new all-time lap record and dominates Race 2 as Round 4 delivers another action-packed weekend.
SILVERSTONE, England – The fourth round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup delivered another exciting weekend of racing in front of more than 105,000 spectators attending the MotoGP™ British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.
Home favorite Bradley Smith, racing as a wildcard for the ParkinGO Team, gave the British crowd plenty to celebrate with a commanding victory in Race 1 before finishing fifth in Race 2, while Archie McDonald returned to the top step with a dominant Sunday victory, leading Eric Granado and Jordi Torres to an all-Joe Rascal Racing podium.
The championship’s regular contenders also continued to push the limits of the Harley-Davidson Race-prepared Road Glide race machines, with lap times increasingly approaching those of more specialized racing categories.
- QUALIFYING
Australian Archie McDonald brought teammate Eric Granado’s streak of three consecutive pole positions to an end, becoming only the second rider to claim pole position in Bagger World Cup history. McDonald secured the top spot on the grid with a 2:08.832 lap, setting a new all-time lap record for the category at Silverstone.
- RACE 1
Saturday’s opening race belonged to Bradley Smith. The British wildcard moved into the lead during the early stages and held the position all the way to the checkered flag, delivering a memorable victory in front of his home crowd. The result added another milestone to Smith’s career. Having previously stood on the podium in Moto3™, Moto2™, MotoGP™ and MotoE™, his Silverstone victory made him the only rider to achieve podium finishes across five categories connected to the MotoGP paddock, now including the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
Behind Smith, Joe Rascal Racing teammates Archie McDonald and Eric Granado completed the podium in second and third, respectively.
The fight for victory remained intense until the final lap. Chasing Smith, McDonald recorded a 2:09.030 lap time on the final lap, while Smith responded with his own personal best of 2:09.384 on the same lap to secure the win.
- RACE 2
Sunday was an Archie McDonald show from start to finish. The 20-year-old Australian delivered a commanding performance to claim his second victory of the season, returning to the top step for the first time since winning the inaugural Bagger World Cup race at Circuit of The Americas.
McDonald led home teammates Eric Granado and Jordi Torres, completing an all-Joe Rascal Racing podium and a remarkable result for the Australian team.
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson:
“Silverstone was another really strong weekend for the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup and a great example of how quickly this championship continues to develop. The racing was incredibly close, the level across the grid continues to rise, and Archie McDonald’s 2:08.832 lap record, around three tenths faster than the Moto3 all-time lap record, shows just how impressive the performance of these motorcycles and riders has become.
Bradley Smith’s wildcard was a special part of the weekend. To see him take a victory at his home Grand Prix, after chasing that moment for so many years, was incredible. Bradley has now stood on the podium in five different categories connected to MotoGP, which speaks to both his career and his versatility as a rider. To add a Bagger World Cup victory at Silverstone to that list made it even more special.
It was also great to welcome Max Toth to the championship with Saddlemen Race Development. He came in as a young rider with limited time on these motorcycles and immediately qualified sixth and raced with riders who have significantly more experience on Baggers and MotoGP circuits. That says a lot about Max, but also about the opportunity the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup can provide for the next generation of riders.
Finally, a huge congratulations to Archie and the entire Joe Rascal Racing team. Archie’s Race 2 victory was outstanding, and for the team to lock out the podium was an incredible way to finish the weekend. We’re four rounds into our inaugural season, and the competition just keeps getting better.”
Bradley Smith – ParkinGO Team – Race 1 Winner:
“I’m not sure I quite have the words for it. Having finished second and third at my home GP before, I always dreamed of what it would feel like to hear the national anthem from the top step. Now, here we are, 35 years old and after at least 20 years of trying.
My thanks go to Harley-Davidson for putting this together, and to ParkinGO for bringing me on as a wildcard. I also want to express my gratitude to the entire team. There have been a lot of long hours to get here. Great job to all the riders as well.
Coming here from King of the Baggers, we didn’t really know how we would compare against the Bagger World Cup riders, and I’m sure they were just as curious to see how we would perform. Racing together on the same track, on the same day and on equal machinery showed just how high the level is and how far we’re pushing these bikes. Nothing but credit to Harley-Davidson for creating the opportunity to do this on the world stage.”
Archie McDonald – Joe Rascal Racing – Race 2 Winner:
“You say I’ve been through a lot this year, but you don’t know the half of it. I’ve seen things no one’s meant to see and I’ve been places that people aren’t supposed to be. To stand on the top step of the podium after everything just goes to show how much I really want this. I’m here to win. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped me get here. I’ve had moments of pure disbelief. During training, there were times I cried because I kept crashing over and over. I looked at my coach and asked, ‘What are we going to do?’ and he simply told me, ‘Don’t give up.’ And I never did. I can’t thank Angel Poyatos enough for that, because if it wasn’t for him, I would have given up. Here we are months later, standing on the top step thanks to him, my family and everyone who refused to give up on me, especially Joe Rascal Racing. To have all three of us on the podium shows what this team can do. Thank you again to everyone. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!”
- THE CHASE FOR THE TITLE
After eight races, Eric Granado retains the championship lead with 147 points, but McDonald’s Silverstone performance has reduced the gap to just five points. Gutiérrez remains firmly in contention in third with 128 points.
Eric Granado (BRA) – 147 points
Archie McDonald (AUS) – 142 points
Oscar Gutiérrez (SPA) – 128 points
Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 97 points
Jake Lewis (USA) – 88 points
Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 79 points
Cory West (USA) – 56 points
Travis Wyman (USA) – 54 points
Jordi Torres (SPA) – 51 points
Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 37 points
Bradley Smith (GBR) – 36 points
Cody Wyman (USA) – 26 points
Max Toth (USA) – 19 points
With two rounds and 100 points still available, the battle for the inaugural FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup title remains wide open.
The championship now heads to Spain for the next chapter of the season, as the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup visits MotorLand Aragón for the MotoGP™ Aragón Grand Prix from August 28–30.
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.
