Source: American Rider –
[[{“value”:”The King Of The Baggers rolled into Circuit of the Americas last weekend, the second trip of the year to the fast and technical circuit near Austin, Texas. Held September 13-15, it was the penultimate round of the 2024 championship.
Coming into the 3.5-mile, 20-turn COTA circuit, all eyes were on championship leaders Kyle Wyman and Troy Herfoss for another Harley vs. Indian battle.
Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss carried some momentum after a win in Race 1 of the previous double-header round at Mid-Ohio on his S&S Challenger, while championship leader Kyle Wyman scored the victory in Race 2 on his Road Glide, giving him a 14-point lead over Herfoss as the series headed to Texas.
King Of The Baggers Mid-Ohio Report
Ironically, at the COTA race earlier in the year, Herfoss won Race 1 while Wyman set a new track record and was victorious in Race 2.
King Of The Baggers Circuit of the Americas Report
It was hot in Texas, with temperatures approaching triple digits. Teenage sensation Rocco Landers was the quickest rider in Friday’s qualifying session on his Vance & Hines Road Glide with a 2:14.8, a new track record just a fraction ahead of V&H teammate and reigning champ, Hayden Gillim.
Cooler weather during Saturday’s qualifying session shuffled the order, as Herfoss uncorked a blistering 2:13.7 lap to steal pole away from the Harley riders. Teammate O’Hara was runner-up but a full second behind, joined on the front row by Landers. The second row was filled by Gillim and the factory Screamin’ Eagle teammates of Wyman and James Rispoli.
Race 1
Although only in his rookie season in the KOTB class, 19-year-old Rocco Landers has impressed the paddock with his speed, coming into this race with a string of four consecutive podium finishes.
And his star got brighter at COTA after leading all six laps of the race to hold off the challenge from the Factory Indian riders, finishing 1.3 seconds ahead of Herfoss and O’Hara to earn his first win in the KOTB series.
“I got a decent start and then took advantage of some of the other riders getting caught up in traffic,” Landers said after the race.
By finishing 3rd, O’Hara served as a perfect teammate for Herfoss, holding back the Harleys of Wyman and Gillim, who rounded out the top five. Herfoss cut his points gap in half to just 7.
Race 2
The atmosphere was hot for Sunday’s race, held in 99-degree temps with a 126-degree track surface. The Indians came off the line strongly, while the V&H boys got slow launches and fell behind Wyman and Rispoli.
Herfoss galloped away up front while O’Hara’s position was threatened when Wyman stuffed it up the inside of the Indian in the stadium section but couldn’t hold the position. But then Wyman made an inside move on O’Hara in the track’s final corner and moved into 2nd.
The Harley vs. Indian battle took a significant hit when, on lap 2, O’Hara’s engine started blowing smoke after the long backstraight. With the threat of oil on the track, officials halted the race, and O’Hara would no longer be on the track to steal points from his Harley foes.
At the restart, Herfoss again charged into the lead, followed by Wyman, Landers, Rispoli, and Gillim. With two laps to go, Wyman was close to the wheel tracks of his Aussie rival, crossing the line for the last lap just 0.1 second behind.
But that’s as close as Wyman would get, and Herfoss endured the challenge to score his sixth win of the season. Landers and Gillim finished about 4 seconds behind and nearly side by side in 3rd and 4th.
“I’m happy with the ride today,” Wyman said after Sunday’s race. “We had a slow build all weekend, and today I had good pace in a couple of spots on the track but not enough to risk a pass for the lead.”
With his pair of top-four finishes, Wyman hangs onto a two-point championship lead over Herfoss, 315 to 313. The series heads into the final double-header weekend of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 27-29 (just as this issue is going to press).
“I’ve got some great memories from previous races at New Jersey,” Wyman said, “so let’s go back there make a few more.”
Herfoss and Wyman each have six wins and six second-place finishes this season, a near-perfect matchup. Harley and Wyman won the KOTB title in 2021, while Indian and O’Hara stole the 2022 championship. Gillim was the 2023 champ.
Troy Herfoss kept his championship hopes alive with a runner-up finish in Race 1 and a win in Race 2. He’s now just 2 points behind championship leader Kyle Wyman.
“Best man can win,” Herfoss told MotoAmerica. “I understand full well that it’s a track that he (Wyman) is really good at, and I’ve got a lot of respect for that. I can’t wait to go there and see what I can do.”
After 16 of 18 rounds, Gillim sits 3rd in the standings with 213 points, followed by O’Hara (198), Landers (179), and Rispoli (175).
For more information, including results from the Super Hooligan class, read Harley-Davidson’s press release below.
Find all of American Rider‘s racing coverage here
MILWAUKEE (September 16, 2024) – RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Rocco Landers scored his first series victory, and Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman maintained his series points lead in a double-header weekend of MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers racing action at Circuit of the Americas in Travis County, Texas. Landers won the Saturday race and finished 3rd on Sunday. With a 4th-place finish on Saturday and 2nd-place on Sunday, Wyman holds a two-point championship lead heading into the final double-header weekend of the season.
West Crowned Mission Super Hooligan Champion
Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Cory West on Sunday won the 10-race Mission Super Hooligan championship aboard a race-prepared Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special motorcycle. A consistent front-runner all season, West scored three series race wins and was on the podium in six other races. The veteran racer from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, took over the points lead with a win and a 2nd-place finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on September 18. At Circuit of the Americas, West locked up the title with a 3rd-place finish on Saturday and second place on Sunday, holding off the challenge of the defending Super Hooligan champion, S&S Indian rider Tyler O’Hara.
“The Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America, I can’t say enough. That bike worked awesome,” said West after locking up the title. “This was a really stressful race. I had to finish at least 3rd and I knew Tyler was going to go out and try to win it. I just kept my head down and did what I could. This is a dream come true. It’s something you always wanted when you were a kid and started racing. To be a champion, it’s just complete. I really have to thank everybody. Dave, Amy, Chris. My beautiful wife, who is due in eight days. Jake, Taylor, Kento, Eric, Matty, Fury, Ricky, everybody. I love you guys. My family is here this weekend. I’ve got so many friends. We brought home the number-one plate, and I couldn’t be happier.”
For the season, West scored 183 points to take the title. O’Hara finished second with 179 points, followed by Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Jake Lewis with 146 points.
Landers Breaks Through
The race win by 19-year-old Landers followed a string of four consecutive Mission King Of The Bagger podium finishes. Landers qualified 3rd at Circuit of the Americas and led each of the six laps in Saturday’s main event on the 3.472-mile, 20-turn road course. Landers held off the determined challenge of Factory Indian riders Troy Herfoss and Tyler O’Hara to win by 1.347 seconds.
“I got a decent start and then took advantage of some of the other riders getting caught up in traffic,” said Landers. “Everyone on the Vance & Hines team has been working so hard all season, so a big shout-out to the team and my family for all the support.”
On Sunday Wyman was in 2nd place and chasing Herfoss when the race was stopped for fluid leaked on the track by Factory Indian rider O’Hara. The race was restarted with five laps remaining, and Herfoss again took the lead with Wyman trailing by less than a second as the pair opened a gap on Landers, Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider James Rispoli, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim. Wyman trailed Herfoss by 0.445 seconds at the finish, with Landers 3rd, Gillim 4th, and Rispoli 5th.
“I’m happy with the ride today,” said Wyman after Sunday’s race. “We had a slow build all weekend, and today I had good pace in a couple of spots on the track but not enough to risk a pass for the lead. We’ll leave here with the points lead. I’ve got some great memories from previous races at New Jersey, so let’s go back there and make a few more.”
On the opening lap of Sunday’s race, Rispoli suspected a flat rear tire and pulled off the track on the second lap.
“We had podium pace all weekend,” said Rispoli. “We have really found a great setting, and I am getting confident on the bike. The finishing positions don’t show the potential we have, and we hope to put the final pieces of the puzzle together at New Jersey.”
After 16 of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers series, Wyman has 315 points to 313 for Herfoss. Gillim is in 3rd place with 213 points, followed by O’Hara with 198 points, Landers with 179 points, and Rispoli with 175 points.
The final race in the Mission King Of The Baggers series is September 27-29 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.
The Mission King Of The Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires, and lightweight bodywork.
Harley-Davidson Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission Foods, Rockford Fosgate, Brembo, Öhlins, Protolabs, SYN3 lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 1
Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
Bobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian Motorcycle
Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 2
Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Max Flinders (Ind) M3/Lyndall Brakes/Cowboy H-D/Moose
Mission Super Hooligan Race Results – Circuit of the America Race 1 (Top 10)
Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Jeremy McWilliams (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Dominic Doyle (YAM) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Alessandro Di Mario (Duc) Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati
Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Hunter Dunham (Duc) Ducati Tampa Bay
Mission Super Hooligan Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 2 (Top 10)
Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Jeremy McWilliams (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
Hayden Schultz (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
Dominic Doyle (YAM) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
Stefano Mesa (ENE) Tytlers Cycle Racing
Hawk Mazzotta (IND) Roland Sands Racing
The post King Of The Baggers at Circuit of the Americas Results appeared first on American Rider.”}]]
