Source: Motorcycle Cruiser –
H-D’s Kyle Wyman (33) and Indian’s Troy Herfoss (17) have been battling for the top slot in the King of the Baggers series standings since the start of the 2024 season. Herfoss currently leads by nine points. (Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica/)It’s been a while since we checked in on MotoAmerica’s massively entertaining V-twin racing throwdown, which is why we’re bringing you this Mission King of the Baggers race report midway through the 2024 series. We’re happy to report that it’s yet another neck and neck competition between the two longtime rivals Harley and Indian, with the top six slots in the current standings split 3-3 between Harley and Indian after eight races.The latest headline news came with Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman’s dramatic victory last Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Wyman executed a perfect pass to snatch the victory from Indian rider Troy Herfoss by 0.039 second and claim his fourth win of the season.Related: Harley’s Wyman Brothers Top Round 4 of King of the BaggersHarley-Davidson Factory rider Wyman slid by Herfoss at the finish line in Road America to win by just 0.039 second. (Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica/)For those paying attention, Harley riders executed a clean sweep in 2023′s KOTB championship, finishing 1-2-3 in the standings, with Hayden Gillim securing the crown aboard his Vance & Hines Road Glide. For the 2024 season, H-D came out swinging once again, with Wyman taking the first two races at Daytona, but it’s been eye-opening to see KOTB rookie (and Australian Superbike champ) Herfoss get comfortable on the big bikes so quickly, winning in Road Atlanta and then again at the Circuit of The Americas doubleheader on his Indian Challenger.The past weekend at Road America was another doubleheader, with Wyman aboard his race-prepped Harley Road Glide finishing second in a rain-soaked race on Saturday—but not before setting a new King of the Baggers track record in Friday qualifying. Wyman has podiumed in seven of eight races so far this season and sits second in championship points, behind only Herfoss.Related: Baggers Are Becoming Better RacebikesChampionship point leader Troy Herfoss aboard his S&S/Indian Indian Motorcycle Challenger. (Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica/)Intense rain on Saturday made for extremely challenging conditions on the 4.050-mile 14-turn Road America course. Indian’s Herfoss came out leading the group in race 1, with Harley’s James Rispoli and Wyman chasing him, but Rispoli lost traction at turn 1. Herfoss won the race and Wyman finished second, while Factory Indian rider Tyler O’Hara came in third.Harley-Davidson factory rider James Rispoli coaxing his 185-hp 620-ish pound Road Glide into a corner. (Brian J. Nelson/MotoAmerica/)Related: What Will the Future of Bagger Racing Be?Sunny conditions on Sunday allowed tighter racing with Harley rider Gillim jumping out to an early lead and Wyman, Rispoli, and Herfoss in close pursuit. On the final lap Wyman passed Herfoss in turn 12, only to see the Indian rider get by in turn 14, the final turn before the finish line. Wyman then tucked into the draft and pulled past Herfoss to take the checkered flag in a photo finish. It was O’Hara again finishing third.After eight of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss leads with 180 points, while Harley-Davidson’s Wyman is second with 171 points, followed by O’Hara with 111 points, Rispoli with 92 points, and Gillim with 85 points.The next round, June 14–16 at Brainerd International Speedway in Brainerd, Minnesota, will showcase the top two point leaders once again going head-to-head. Between the two of them, Herfoss and Wyman have won all the King of the Baggers races so far in 2024 and both are far ahead of the rest of the field, making for another gripping championship chase between Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson.To recap: The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepped touring motorcycles from Harley-Davidson and Indian, heavily modified to greatly improve ground clearance, with race-ready suspensions, aggressive ergonomics, and serious engine performance mods. Touring fairings and hard bags are still included, but even those are drastically modified. The result is one of MotoAmerica’s most popular and competitive race classesFor more info see: motoamerica.com.2024 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race 1 Results, Road AmericaTroy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian MotorcycleKyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory RacingTyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian MotorcycleJake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-DavidsonCory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-DavidsonMax Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey MotorsportsBobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian MotorcycleRocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson2024 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race 2 Results, Road AmericaKyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory RacingTroy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian MotorcycleTyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian MotorcycleJames Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory RacingHayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-DavidsonMax Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey MotorsportsCory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-DavidsonJake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-DavidsonKyle Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson2024 King of the Baggers Point StandingsTroy Herfoss 180Kyle Wyman 171Tyler O’Hara 111James Rispoli 92Hayden Gillim 85Max Flinders 71
