MotoAmerica... Like Rossi and Marquez

MotoAmerica... Like Rossi and Marquez

In MotoAmerica they overtake into Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew, but with 300 kg bikes...

18.05.2021 ( Aggiornata il 18.05.2021 12:32 )

In the 70s, and thanks to the contribution of Walter Villa, Harley Davidson scored six world titles - five in the 250 class, of which two constructors’ titles, plus one 350 rider’s title. In reality, the bikes weren’t exactly all-American, the engines were Aermacchi, a brand that belonged to the Milwaukee giant, and the frames were Bimota. But they were race bikes, not custom road bikes. Lightness, aerodynamics and contained dimensions are indispensable on track. Unless you invent a series reserved to bikes like this, as the organisers of MotoAmerica have done.

King of the Baggers


Last October, during the final round, the Laguna Seca track hosted a race called Drag Specialties King of the Baggers. Thirteen bikes took part, eleven Harley-Davidson and two Indians to be precise, all baggers, or rather cruisers complete with side panniers and a top fairing. Right from the first session, the fastest rider was Tyler O’Hara with an Indian Challenger, four seconds faster than Frankie Garcia on the other Indian, but it was Garcia who got off the line quicker at the start of the race. Garcia led but only for one lap, when O’Hara took over out front. A mistake on lap four saw O’Hara run into the sand which allowed Haydem Gillim to take the lead aboard his Electra Glide Standard. But O’Hara wasn’t giving up and made his move three laps from the end. On the following lap, the Indian managed to get past the Harley into the Corkscrew, the kind of move Valentino Rossi made on Casey Stoner or Marc Marquez on Rossi, but unimaginable with a bike of this size. O’Hara won with an advantage of 1.994 seconds over Gillim, 14 seconds over Garcia. A dream result for the Indian, in the very year America launched the Challenger Challenge, which saw the Challenger Dark Horse go up against the the H-D Road Glide Special.

Rainey’s words


Despite a thirteen-second difference in lap time compared to the Superbikes, the race proved successful, as confirmed by MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey: "Honestly, the first MotoAmerica King of the Baggers race at Laguna Seca went better than we could have imagined. The popularity of the event was crazy, so why not do more? Our videos of that debut race have been viewed by millions of people (1.1 million have watched the highlights and 570,000 the full race), and we know that there are a lot of bagger fans out there". And so this year will see three King of the Baggers races, the first having already taken place at Road Atlanta, during the MotoAmerica season-opener, while the second will run on 13 June at Road America, and the third at Laguna Seca on 11 July.

The series even has its own dedicated sponsor, Mission Foods, a world leader in the production of tortillas and wraps that will offer spectators at the track a taste of its new Racing Style chips. Entry to the series is reasonable, at a cost of 250 dollars for one race or 2840 for the whole championship. The regulation foresees a standard frame and fairings, a twin engine of up to 2147 cc, a maximum noise level of 115 decibels (measured at 3000 rpm) and a minimum weight of 288 kg. The only models permitted are the Harley FL Touring and the Indian Bagger and Touring. To balance out performance, the Superbike Commission may indicate a series of corrective measures, from the minimum weight to the air restrictors or even the maximum revs, which can be applied at any time. Rainey looks ahead: "It should bring new teams and new constructors from both the aftermarket and among specialist bagger dealers". Harley versus Indian, a 20s style duel in the Third Millennium.

Translated by Heather Watson

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