Italian State of Emergency in Mugello
When MotoGP comes to Mugello, you can practically smell the gasoline in the air. Every year, tens of thousands of fans flock to Tuscany to experience racing at the highest level. But in 2026, alongside the Grand Prix stars, there was another attraction that caused a stir: the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
And the spectators got exactly what they had hoped for – spectacular duels, thrilling overtakes, and an Italian hero who ultimately brought the stands to their feet.
A record-breaking round and a high-profile new addition
It was already clear during qualifying that Mugello was going to be a special weekend. Eric Granado secured pole position on his Road Glide and, with a time of 1:56.704 minutes, even broke the Bagger World Cup track record.
But Andrea Iannone drew even more attention. The former MotoGP and Superbike rider made his debut on the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and immediately secured a spot on the front row of the grid. A third-place finish in qualifying – despite having virtually no experience on the Bagger – was a clear indication of what was to come.
Gutiérrez Wins Race 1
The first race turned into a real battle between Oscar Gutiérrez, Eric Granado, and Archie McDonald. Lap after lap, the positions shifted as fans in the stands cheered loudly for every attack.
When it came down to it, Gutiérrez kept his cool. With a clever move in the closing stages, the Spaniard secured his second win of the season ahead of Granado and McDonald.
Andrea Iannone was also in the mix at the front from the start and even fought for a podium spot at times. Two long-lap penalties ultimately prevented a top-three finish, so the Italian finished his first Bagger race in fourth place.
#51 Eric Granado (BRA); #69 Archie McDonald (AUS); #99 Oscar Gutierrez (ESP); #29 Andrea Iannone (ITA) in a thrilling battle
Iannone delivers some thrilling moments
Fittingly, Andrea Iannone also set the fastest lap of the weekend with a time of 1:56.804 minutes.
What had already been spectacular on Saturday was surpassed yet again on Sunday.
Gutiérrez, Granado, McDonald, and Iannone engaged in a four-way battle that left spectators barely able to catch their breath. The heavy Harley-Davidson race bikes flew through the legendary curves of Mugello at impressive speeds, while the riders dueled wheel-to-wheel.
Then came the turning point: Gutiérrez crashed, and suddenly the duel was just Granado versus Iannone.
The lead changed hands several times. At times the Brazilian was in front, then the Italian. The fans in the stands were ecstatic.
In the final laps, Andrea Iannone finally pulled ahead. To the cheers of the Italian spectators, he crossed the finish line first, thereby writing a small piece of motorsport history: his first victory in the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup—and that in just his second race.
Nearly 300 km/h on the Road Glide
It wasn’t just the battle at the front that was impressive – the bikes’ performance was as well.
Eric Granado reached an incredible 283.4 km/h on Mugello’s long start-finish straight, setting the absolute top speed of the weekend. This is further proof of just how serious the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup has become.
The championship remains exciting
After two spectacular races, the championship remains wide open. Archie McDonald narrowly holds the lead with 73 points, ahead of Eric Granado (70 points) and Oscar Gutiérrez (64 points).
Thanks to his victory, Andrea Iannone jumps straight to seventh place in the overall standings and, following his dream debut, is likely to be among the favorites in every race going forward.
Championship Standings:
1st: Archie McDonald – 73 points
2nd: Eric Granado – 70 points
3rd: Oscar Gutiérrez – 64 points
4th: Jake Lewis – 53 points
5th: Filippo Rovelli – 51 points
6th: Cory West – 39 points
7th place: Andrea Iannone – 38 points
8th place: Travis Wyman – 26 points
9th place: Cody Wyman – 26 points
10th place: Dimas Ekky Pratama – 20 points
Next stop: Assen
Following an emotional weekend in Italy, the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup heads to the Netherlands. From June 26 to 28, the legendary TT Circuit Assen – another historic racetrack – awaits the riders.
If Mugello was a taste of what’s to come this season, fans can look forward to a championship that’s just really getting into full swing.
#13 Cory West (USA) of Saddlemen Racing
Left: #51 Eric Granado (BRA) – Center: #29 Andrea Iannone (ITA) – Right: #69 Archie McDonald (AUS)
#99 Oscar Gutierrez (ESP) of Niti Racing
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