Indian Motorcycle – Vance & Hines Factory Team (2026)

Up to date news 19/2/26.

For the 2026 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers season, Indian Motorcycle Company has launched a factory racing effort in partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports — one of the most respected names in American V-twin racing and performance engineering. This marks a strategic re-commitment to MotoAmerica’s premier bagger class as part of Indian’s new era under Carolwood ownership.

Indian Wrecking Crew – Factory Rider Line-Up

• Troy Herfoss – 2024 King of the Baggers Champion
  A proven winner with championship pedigree who anchors the factory squad.
• Hayden Gillim – 2023 King of the Baggers Champion
  Brings prior title success and deep race experience to the Indian effort.
• Rocco Landers – Rising Talent
  A dynamic young rider moving onto the Indian Challenger platform for 2026, after strong performances elsewhere.

These riders will campaign Vance & Hines-prepared Indian Challenger race bikes, powered by the liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin engine — a platform that has already delivered multiple championships in the class.

Sponsors and Race Support

The 2026 factory program will receive backing from a roster of major aftermarket and performance partners, including:

• J&P Cycles
• MOTUL
• Progressive Insurance
• Drag Specialties
• Performance Finance

This sponsorship base supports race operations, development, contingency funds, and rider backing throughout the season.

Full 2026 Mission King of the Baggers Race Calendar

For 2026, King of the Baggers will run 14 races across seven weekends (doubleheaders) as part of the MotoAmerica Championship. These are confirmed U.S. dates and venues:

2026 King of the Baggers Calendar
(All events are doubleheader race weekends unless noted.)

Dates	Venue	Location
Mar 5–7	Daytona International Speedway	Daytona Beach, FL
Apr 17–19	Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta	Braselton, GA
May 29–31	Road America	Elkhart Lake, WI
Jul 10–12	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca	Monterey, CA
Jul 31–Aug 2	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	Lexington, OH
Sep 11–13	Circuit of The Americas	Austin, TX
Sep 25–27	New Jersey Motorsports Park	Millville, NJ

These tracks are among the most iconic in American road racing and offer a mix of high-speed straights, technical corners, and classic spectator venues — ideal for both bagger action and broader MotoAmerica race weekends.

Full 2026 Rider Field Highlights

In addition to the Indian factory entries, the King of the Baggers grid features a competitive lineup of independent and factory-supported riders on Indian Challengers and Harley-Davidson Road Glides. Confirmed entries (based on the latest provisional rider list from Daytona entry sheets) include:

Notable Competitors

• Kyle Wyman – Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing
• Cory West – Saddlemen Race Development (Harley-Davidson)
• Tyler O’Hara – SDI Racing (Indian Challenger)
• Bradley Smith – Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory (Harley-Davidson)
• James Rispoli – Big Diehl x Harley-Davidson Factory
• Kyle Ohnstad – TAB Performance (Indian Challenger)
• Jake Lewis – Saddlemen Race Development (Harley-Davidson)
• Max Flinders – M3/Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson

These riders bring a blend of factory support, independent expertise, and varied race strategies — all contributing to the depth of the 2026 field.

Class & Competitive Context

The Mission King of the Baggers class has rapidly grown into one of MotoAmerica’s most popular and competitive championships, featuring modified touring bikes like the Indian Challenger and Harley-Davidson Road Glide — machines that look showroom-familiar but are extensively engineered for racing with improved chassis, suspension, brakes, and weight-management to deliver high-speed performance.

Each race weekend typically includes:

• Two feature races (doubleheaders)
• Practice and qualifying sessions
• Contingency payouts from sponsors like Drag Specialties

This format encourages ongoing development and tight championship battles throughout the season.

Why 2026 Matters

• Expanded race count: 14 races across seven weekends, the most comprehensive bagger schedule to date.
• Factory reinvestment: Indian Motorcycle’s full factory push with Vance & Hines underscores performance credibility.
• Historic context: The 2026 MotoAmerica season also celebrates the 50th anniversary of AMA Superbike racing, adding historical weight to the championship.