Harley’s entering this year’s King of the Baggers series with a new Screamin’ Eagle factory team led by racer Kyle Wyman. (Harley-Davidson/)Last year was wild for many reasons, but in the motorcycle racing world, one wild event stood out in particular: the inaugural running of the King of the Baggers. The big-bore bagger race at the storied Laguna Seca track last October was one of 2020′s success stories, and now that MotoAmerica announced its official return for 2021, the manufacturers are lining up to lend their support. First in line is Harley Davidson, who’s announced it’ll be fielding a factory team for the now-three-round series (held in conjunction with the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike series). Just a guess, but maybe it’s looking to avenge its second place finish in last year’s contest?
Last year’s inaugural King of the Baggers race was an unqualified success, says MotoAmerica. (Brian J. Nelson/)The new H-D Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team will be fielding a race-prepped Road Glide Special powered by a modified Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine, with pro rider Kyle Wyman at the helm. As Harley will tell you, the Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine is its most-powerful street-compliant engine; a 2,147cc monster claimed to deliver 131 pound-feet of torque (running it on the Cycle World dyno, we got very similar figures).
The 2021 KOTB series has been shortened to three rounds, down from the initial five-round plan. (Harley-Davidson/)Meanwhile, the man at the controls is no slouch either; veteran roadracer Kyle Wyman won the Daytona 200 in 2019 and placed seventh overall in the 2020 HONOS Superbike series, among a host of his other podium places. Last year, Wyman, who was then a MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike racer, threw his leg over the Trask Performance Harley-Davidson to race in the King of the Baggers, finishing fourth overall in the field of 13. Needless to say, he’s pumped for this year’s effort, saying, “To be a factory rider for Harley-Davidson is something I’ve dreamed of since I was little. I look forward to our first race at Road Atlanta and competing aboard this amazing machine.”
RELATED: MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Racing Lineup
In addition to the factory team, Harley-Davidson will offer a nearly $30,000 cash contingency program for qualified Harley racers competing in the King of the Baggers series as another carrot to draw potential riders.
Kyle Wyman putting in laps on the race-prepped Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide Special fitted with an M-8 131 engine. (Harley-Davidson/)You might also recall that last year’s King of the Baggers debut as an exhibition at Laguna Seca was so well received by both fans and riders that MotoAmerica announced earlier this year that it would expand to a five-round series. Unfortunately, that plan has been modified a bit, with the number of races now downsized, “due to a lack of sufficient track time” at the Barber Motorsports Park round, which has been removed from the schedule.
RELATED: Baggers Get MotoAmerica Race Series
The latest info has MotoAmerica hosting the 2021 King of the Baggers in a three-round format, for race-prepared, American V-twin touring motorcycles equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The series is open to all qualified AMA license holders, with championship points being tallied at each round and a national champion crowned at season’s end.
The new three-round series kicks off April 30 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, continuing on to Road America in Wisconsin on June 11–13, and wrapping up at California’s WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca July 9–11.
For more info, check out: motoamericaregistration.com.
