Iannone wins at the Bagger World Cup in Mugello
On his debut, Iannone wins Race 2 during the Italian GP weekend.
Andrea Iannone wins at Mugello. The season’s first round in Italy, the second stop of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, delivered another spectacular chapter of the championship’s inaugural season. Intense duels, plot twists and the passion of the Italian fans turned Mugello into the stage for an unforgettable weekend, held alongside the Italian MotoGP™ Grand Prix.
In Friday’s qualifying, Eric Granado (Joe Rascal Racing) took pole position with a 1:56.704 lap, setting the new outright Bagger World Cup record at Mugello. The Brazilian edged his team-mate Archie McDonald, second by 0.323s. Completing the front row was category debutant Andrea Iannone (Niti Racing), who immediately impressed by qualifying third — just 0.547s off pole — in his first weekend aboard the competition Harley-Davidson Road Glide, despite arriving at Mugello with very limited experience on the bike.
Race 1
Saturday’s opening race produced a fierce duel between Oscar Gutiérrez (Niti Racing), Eric Granado and Archie McDonald, the three trading places throughout. In the closing stages Gutiérrez came out on top, taking his second win of the season with a smart, composed ride. Granado finished second and McDonald completed the podium in third. On his championship debut, Iannone showed front-running pace and fought for the podium for much of the race, but two Long Lap penalties compromised his result and dropped the Italian to fourth despite a strong performance.
Race 2
If Race 1 was intense, Race 2 raised the bar. Gutiérrez, Granado, McDonald and Iannone went straight to the front, swapping positions repeatedly in the early laps. The race turned when Gutiérrez crashed while fighting at the front, leaving Granado and Iannone to dispute the win. The Brazilian and the Italian traded the lead several times before Iannone took control, crossing the line first to claim his maiden Bagger World Cup victory in only his second race in the category. Granado finished second, while McDonald rounded out the podium after losing touch with the leaders late on.
Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team) confirmed a solid weekend with fourth in Race 2, his best result of the Mugello round.
Iannone also set the fastest lap of Race 2 with a 1:56.804, underlining how competitive his debut weekend was.
The competition Harley-Davidson® machines impressed all weekend. In Race 1, Granado recorded the event’s top speed at 283.4 km/h on Mugello’s famous straight.
Jake Lewis was the leading Saddlemen Race Development rider, finishing both races sixth and holding fourth in the standings.
Voices from Mugello
“Austin showed the potential of this championship. Mugello confirmed it. We saw two races full of overtakes, with different winners and riders pushing these bikes to the limit from start to finish. The level keeps rising, and that’s exactly what we hoped to achieve with the Bagger World Cup. Andrea Iannone’s arrival added another talking point to an already competitive grid, but what struck me most was the quality of the racing across the whole field. We saw riders from different countries, with different backgrounds and riding styles, finding their own way to be fast on these bikes and producing great battles for the fans. Just as important was seeing thousands of spectators take part in the experience we’re building around the championship. The Harley-Davidson Village, the open garages, the rider meet-ups and the races themselves all helped create a special atmosphere. That’s what makes this championship unique.”
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson
“This Race 1 win tastes even better than Austin, because Mugello has always been a tough track for me. I wasn’t well yesterday because of an allergy and had slept very little, but we knew we had the pace to fight at the front. I focused on a smart race, studying my rivals and waiting for the right moment to attack. On the last lap I made my move on Eric and took the win.
For Race 2 my plan was different. I wanted to lead straight away and try to break clear, but I was too optimistic with a passing move and lost the front. That was my mistake. The positive is that I finished and scored important points for the championship. We learned something today, and now we look to Assen — a track I really like — ready to fight for the win again.”
Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing Race 1 winner
“Coming back to racing is always special, but doing it here at Mugello and with Harley-Davidson made it even more incredible. I really enjoyed myself. When you have this passion inside you it’s hard to stay away, so I’m very grateful for this opportunity and for everything we’re experiencing together.
What surprised me most was the riding experience on this bike. Once you’re on track, you find a real race bike. It can set impressive lap times, it handles really well and, above all, it’s hugely fun to push to the limit.
I didn’t approach the races with a set plan. I’ve always been an instinctive rider, one who follows his feelings, and I believe that when you make decisions with your heart it’s hard to go wrong. The level is very high, everyone is fast and the gaps are small. My goal is to keep enjoying it, keep learning and stay competitive every time I get on the bike.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who made all this possible: the team, Harley-Davidson and everyone involved in the project. It’s wonderful to be here.”
Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing Race 2 winner
Standings and next round
After the Italian round, Archie McDonald keeps the championship lead on 73 points, ahead of Eric Granado on 70 and Oscar Gutiérrez on 64.
1. Archie McDonald (AUS) – 73
2. Eric Granado (BRA) – 70
3. Oscar Gutiérrez (ESP) – 64
4. Jake Lewis (USA) – 53
5. Filippo Rovelli (ITA) – 51
6. Cory West (USA) – 39
7. Andrea Iannone (ITA) – 38
8. Travis Wyman (USA) – 26
9. Cody Wyman (USA) – 26
10. Dimas Ekky Pratama (INA) – 20
The next round of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup takes place from 26 to 28 June at the legendary TT Circuit Assen, in the Netherlands.
Article by Thomas Pettenó
Media Contacts Harley-Davidson: Federico Tondelli
