Earlier this year, which is set to close tomorrow as I write this, Harley-Davidson held a "test" with Dorna that wasn't really a test of anything. It was just...a thing. And a weird thing at that.
However, what it showed was that there's an appetite for one of the best forms of motorcycle racing on the planet over across the pond, i.e. King of the Baggers. Now, while Dorna and Harley-Davidson are still working out the details of whatever they're cooking up for next year, another bagger series, one that's not associated with King of the Baggers or anyone else involved, is saying it'll host a championship over in Europe in 2025.
And if you're asking yourself, "Wait, what?" yeah, us too. You're not alone. But, apparently, Europe is likely getting two bagger racing series in 2025.
The new series is set to be called the Bagger Racing European Cup and run by Ruben Xaus, who previously raced in World Superbike, MotoGP, and the Bagger Racing League in North America. The latter of which he won. That said, the BRL is different than King of the Baggers, though they use many of the same machines.
According to the Bagger Racing League's release on the newly formed Bagger Racing European Cup, "The Cup will be open to all brands that offer motorcycles that can be equipped with bags on the market, thus allowing manufacturers and customizers to compete on a terrain that has never before been the subject of competition in Europe." Those motorcycles include makes such as Harley-Davidson, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Ducati, and WYCHE.
It will also be supported by FIM Europe, with the group's Secretary General Alessandro Sambuco stating, "I am always very satisfied when we manage to add a new title to our sporting offering. Adding a new title is an indicator of health for our world and also indicates that there is confidence in what FIM Europe can offer. And what we offer is what differentiates us from the rest of the sporting world, the one that lives outside the international sporting system: we offer sporting rules, safety in sporting practice, insurance coverage and organizations that are up to every situation. The Baggers will offer a wide range of riders, from young to older, the opportunity to compete in a safe and dynamic environment that, thanks to the new Promoter, will also offer attractive entertainment to accompany the race."
As for Xaus, he said " I found fertile ground for this project in FIM Europe, which immediately embraced it with enthusiasm. I am convinced that this championship can be an added value for the events in which it will be hosted, raising the level of entertainment and interest of the same. We are in the process of defining the calendar, which will be made official within a few days, but will include the main European countries. The regulation will also be simple and open to all. We want the riders registered for the championship to have fun and have fun."
Once the cup gets going, each round will consist of two races, one on Saturday and one Sunday, and spectators will be treated to free practices and qualifying, too. As for when the newly formed Bagger European Racing Championship will kick off, however, hasn't been disclosed. And how the two series will get along, that of King of the Baggers and Bagger European Racing, is also yet to be seen.
As for me, more bagger racing is a good thing, because when I watched it live, it was positively excellent.
