HARLEY-Davidson is gearing up for an exciting new chapter that aims to attract a fresh wave of enthusiasts.
This renowned motorcycle manufacturer, a favorite across the United States, will gain significant visibility in Europe through one of the world’s leading racing competitions.
According to ESPN, Harley-Davidson and MotoGP—the top motorcycle road racing series—have announced a support championship set to debut in 2026, showcasing teams racing bagger bikes at grand prix events across Europe and North America.
Riders will compete on race-configured Harley-Davidson Road Glide bagger motorcycles, designed for long-distance travel.
This 12-race series will be held at six grand prix events within the MotoGP schedule, with an estimated six to eight teams featuring two riders each.
No specific venues have been confirmed yet, although it is widely expected that one will be the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz stated: “This represents a bold new direction for Harley-Davidson’s global racing initiatives.”
“With this series, we are thrilled to introduce a new form of racing to an international audience.”
As noted by AutoSport, he added, “The bike will reach speeds exceeding 300 km/h, weigh around 280 kg, and generate 200 bhp.
“These are powerful machines that will take to the tracks in Europe and North America.”
This announcement follows the opening of a new Harley-Davidson dealership in a key US location, overcoming various hurdles to bring the vision to fruition.
To celebrate its grand opening, a notable figure made a special appearance, kicking off this exciting new phase for the store.
On its inaugural day in business, the celebration attracted a large crowd of fans and community members, complete with live entertainment and food vendors.
The festivities concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the dealership’s official launch.
Located in Greene County, Virginia, the new Stonewall Harley-Davidson dealership was visited by Karen Davidson, a prominent figure in the Harley-Davidson community, who participated in the ceremonial “chain cutting.”
Davidson is the great-granddaughter of a co-founder of Harley-Davidson and the daughter of Willie G. Davidson, a legendary designer and icon associated with the brand.
Along with the chain-cutting, she engaged with fans and signed copies of the memoir ‘Ride Free’ by Willie G. Davidson.
Harley-Davidson Store Closures in 2024
There are over 650 Harley-Davidson dealerships throughout America.
However, several stores have closed for various reasons during 2024, often without providing an explanation.
Here are some Harley-Davidson locations that have ceased operations this year and the reasons for their closure:
A location in San Francisco closed in June 2024 after 110 years due to “chaos” caused by new management.
Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, closed in September 2024 with no explanation provided.
Harley-Davidson’s legacy location in New York City closed on September 28, 2024, with the owner citing economic challenges.
Reiman’s Harley-Davidson dealership in Kewanee, Illinois, shut down in October 2024 after the owners sold the business to the Walter Brothers Harley-Davidson dealership in Peoria, Illinois.
Another Illinois dealership closed in November 2024.
Additionally, the dealership in West Bend, Wisconsin, is temporarily closing for the season from November 2 until April 1, 2024.
In 2025, Hideout Harley-Davidson in Missouri announced its closure at the end of March.