{"id":913542,"date":"2026-06-17T18:15:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T23:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/17\/iannone-claims-first-bagger-world-cup-victory-as-mugello-delivers-thrilling-italian-showdown\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T18:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T23:15:04","slug":"iannone-claims-first-bagger-world-cup-victory-as-mugello-delivers-thrilling-italian-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/17\/iannone-claims-first-bagger-world-cup-victory-as-mugello-delivers-thrilling-italian-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Iannone Claims First Bagger World Cup Victory as Mugello Delivers Thrilling Italian Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"IannoneThe second round of the\u00a0FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup<\/strong>\u00a0delivered another spectacular chapter in the championship\u2019s 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\u2122 Grand Prix of Italy.<\/h2>\n

Friday\u2019s qualifying<\/strong> session saw Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing)<\/strong> secure pole position with a lap of 1:56.704<\/strong>, establishing a new all-time Bagger World Cup lap record for the Mugello circuit. The Brazilian led ahead of teammate Archie McDonald<\/strong>, second by 0.323 seconds. Completing the front row was category newcomer Andrea Iannone (Niti Racing)<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

Race 1<\/strong>
\nSaturday\u2019s opening race featured a fierce battle between Oscar Guti\u00e9rrez (Niti Racing)<\/strong>, Eric Granado<\/strong>, and Archie McDonald<\/strong>, with the three riders exchanging positions repeatedly throughout the race. In the closing stages, Guti\u00e9rrez 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.<\/p>\n

Race 2<\/strong>
\nIf Race 1 was intense, Race 2 raised the bar even further. Guti\u00e9rrez, 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 Guti\u00e9rrez 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.<\/p>\n

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

Iannone also set the fastest lap of Race 2 with a time of 1:56.804<\/strong>, 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<\/strong> on Mugello\u2019s famous main straight.<\/p>\n

Jake Lewis<\/strong> was the top finisher for Saddlemen Race Development<\/strong>, securing sixth place in both races and maintaining fourth position in the championship standings.<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Schuessler \u2013 Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson<\/strong>
\n\u201cAustin 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\u2019s 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\u2019s what makes this championship unique.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Oscar Guti\u00e9rrez \u2013 Niti Racing<\/strong>
\nRace 1 Winner
\n\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Andrea Iannone \u2013 Niti Racing<\/strong>
\nRace 2 Winner
\n\u201cComing 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\u2019s difficult to stay away from it, so I\u2019m 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\u2019s a lot of fun to ride. I didn\u2019t approach the races with a specific strategy. I\u2019ve 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\u2019s great to be here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Following the Italian round, Archie McDonald <\/strong>retains the championship lead with 73 points<\/strong>, ahead of Eric Granado<\/strong> on 70 points <\/strong>and Oscar Guti\u00e9rrez<\/strong> on 64 points<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Championship Standings<\/strong>
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Archie McDonald (AUS) \u2013 73
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Eric Granado (BRA) \u2013 70
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Oscar Guti\u00e9rrez (SPA) \u2013 64
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Jake Lewis (USA) \u2013 53
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Filippo Rovelli (ITA) \u2013 51
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cory West (USA) \u2013 39
\n7.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Andrea Iannone (ITA) \u2013 38
\n8.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Travis Wyman (USA) \u2013 26
\n9.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cody Wyman (USA) \u2013 26
\n10.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) \u2013 20<\/p>\n

The next round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup<\/strong> will take place at the legendary TT Circuit Assen<\/strong> in the Netherlands, from June 26th\u201328th.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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About the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup<\/strong>
\nThe Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will be the world\u2019s first global racing series dedicated exclusively to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, competing as a premier support championship on select MotoGP\u2122 weekends across North America and Europe.<\/p>\n

Bagger World Cup race bikes are built on Harley-Davidson\u2019s Grand American Touring platform, transformed by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing into purpose-built competition machines.<\/p>\n

Each motorcycle features:<\/strong><\/p>\n