Iannone Claims First Bagger World Cup Victory as Mugello Delivers Thrilling Italian Showdown

The second round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup delivered another spectacular chapter in the championship’s inaugural season, as intense battles, dramatic moments and passionate Italian fans transformed Mugello into the stage for an unforgettable weekend of racing alongside the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of Italy.

Friday’s qualifying session saw Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) secure pole position with a lap of 1:56.704, establishing a new all-time Bagger World Cup lap record for the Mugello circuit. The Brazilian led ahead of teammate Archie McDonald, second by 0.323 seconds. Completing the front row was category newcomer Andrea Iannone (Niti Racing), who immediately impressed by qualifying third, just 0.547 seconds from pole position on his first weekend aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide race machine and despite arriving at Mugello with very limited previous track time on the bike.

Race 1
Saturday’s opening race featured a fierce battle between Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing), Eric Granado, and Archie McDonald, with the three riders exchanging positions repeatedly throughout the race. In the closing stages, Gutiérrez emerged on top to secure his second victory of the season after a smart and calculated performance. Granado crossed the line in second position, while McDonald completed the podium in third. Making his championship debut, Andrea Iannone immediately demonstrated front-running pace and spent much of the race fighting for podium positions. However, two Long Lap penalties ultimately relegated the Italian to fourth place despite a highly competitive performance.

Race 2
If Race 1 was intense, Race 2 raised the bar even further. Gutiérrez, Granado, McDonald and Iannone quickly established themselves as the leading group, engaging in a spectacular battle with multiple overtakes and constant position changes during the opening laps. The race changed dramatically when Gutiérrez crashed out while fighting at the front, leaving Granado and Iannone to continue their duel for victory. The Brazilian and the Italian traded positions repeatedly before Iannone finally gained the upper hand, taking the checkered flag to secure his first-ever Bagger World Cup victory in only his second race in the category. Granado finished a close second, while McDonald completed the podium after losing touch with the leading pair in the closing stages.

Another strong performance came from Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team), who secured fourth place in Race 2, his best result of the weekend.

Iannone also set the fastest lap of Race 2 with a time of 1:56.804, further highlighting the competitiveness of his debut weekend. The speed of the Harley-Davidson race machines was equally impressive throughout the weekend. Granado recorded the highest speed of the event during Race 1, reaching 283.4 km/h on Mugello’s famous main straight.

Jake Lewis was the top finisher for Saddlemen Race Development, securing sixth place in both races and maintaining fourth position in the championship standings.

Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson
“Austin showed the potential of this championship. Mugello confirmed it. We saw two races filled with overtakes, different winners, and riders pushing these motorcycles to the limit from start to finish. The level of competition continues to rise, and that’s exactly what we hoped to achieve with the Bagger World Cup. The arrival of Andrea Iannone added another exciting element to an already competitive grid, but what impressed me most was the quality of the racing throughout the field. We had riders from different countries, backgrounds and riding styles all finding their own way to be fast on these motorcycles, creating fantastic battles for the fans. Just as importantly, we saw thousands of spectators embracing the experience we are building around the championship. The Harley-Davidson Village, the open garages, the rider interactions and the racing itself all contributed to a fantastic atmosphere. That’s what makes this championship unique.”

Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing
Race 1 Winner
“This Race 1 victory feels even more special than the one in Austin because Mugello has always been a difficult circuit for me. I was not feeling well yesterday due to an allergy and very little sleep, but we knew we had the pace to fight at the front. I focused on riding a smart race, studying my rivals and waiting for the right moment to attack. On the final lap I made my move on Eric and managed to take the win. For Race 2, my plan was different. I wanted to get to the front early and try to open a gap, but I was too optimistic with my move and lost the front. It was my mistake. The positive thing is that I was able to finish the race and score some valuable points for the championship. We learned something important today, and now we look ahead to Assen, a circuit I really like, ready to fight for victory again.”

Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing
Race 2 Winner
“Coming back to racing is always special, but doing it here at Mugello and with Harley-Davidson made it even more incredible. I really enjoyed it. When you have this passion inside you, it’s difficult to stay away from it, so I’m very grateful for this opportunity and for everything we are experiencing together. What surprised me the most is the riding experience of this bike. Once you get on track, you discover a true race machine. It can achieve impressive lap times, it handles really well and, above all, it’s a lot of fun to ride. I didn’t approach the races with a specific strategy. I’ve always been an instinctive rider, someone who follows his feelings, and I believe that when you make decisions with your heart, you rarely go wrong. The level is very high, everyone is fast, and the gaps are small. My goal is to keep enjoying myself, continue learning, and be competitive every time I get on the bike. Finally, I want to thank everyone who made this possible: the team, Harley-Davidson, and all the people involved in the project. It’s great to be here.”

Following the Italian round, Archie McDonald retains the championship lead with 73 points, ahead of Eric Granado on 70 points and Oscar Gutiérrez on 64 points.

Championship Standings
1.    Archie McDonald (AUS) – 73
2.    Eric Granado (BRA) – 70
3.    Oscar Gutiérrez (SPA) – 64
4.    Jake Lewis (USA) – 53
5.    Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 51
6.    Cory West (USA) – 39
7.    Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 38
8.    Travis Wyman (USA) – 26
9.    Cody Wyman (USA) – 26
10.    Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 20

The next round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will take place at the legendary TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, from June 26th–28th.