Photo credit — Brian J. Nelson
Competing on Harley-Davidson’s home turf, Indian Motorcycle left no doubt which manufacturer is setting the pace in the King of the Baggers championship battle in 2026. Championship points leader Hayden Gillim delivered another dominating performance at Road America, sweeping both races to capture his fourth and fifth victories of the season to further extend his points lead atop the Championship standings.
The impressive showing was yet another testament to the race-winning performance of the Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger powered by the PowerPlus 112 engine. Through six races, the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team remains undefeated, as the 2026 King of the Baggers season continues to highlight the team’s championship-proven engineering and the relentless performance of the Indian Challenger.
“Winning at the home track of our rival is one thing, but sweeping the weekend with two victories and extending our undefeated streak in such a dominating manner is extra special,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “Six victories in a row, across three very different racetracks is a testament to, not only the strength of our Vance & Hines team and the talent of our riders, but also the superior package we possess with the Indian Challenger and Powerplus 112. This is the result of elite racing talent paired with a world-class machine.”
After seeing the Vance & Hines-build Indian Challenger dominating the season’s first four races, MotoAmerica rules officials decided an adjustment was in order, granting Harley-Davidson an additional 200 RPMs for the remainder of the season in an effort to narrow the performance gap and potentially end Indian’s undefeated run. Despite the rules change, the Indian Motorcycle Factory Race Team finished on top of the podium yet again, sweeping both races and shattering the Road America lap record for baggers.
Gillim’s exceptional performance began in the qualifying round on Friday, capturing P1 and breaking the track’s fastest lap record for baggers by 1.3 seconds, a record previously held by Harley-Davidson Factory Rider Kyle Wyman. In fact, Gillim recorded three laps during the session that were faster than Wyman’s record time. This set the stage for Gillim’s decisive victories in both races.
Starting from the top pole position in Race 1, Gillim appeared poised to control the race from the outset. However, Wyman quickly challenged for the lead and held the top position through the opening two laps. Gillim remained within striking distance, steadily closing the gap before making a decisive move to reclaim first place. Once out front, Gillim set a relentless pace and maintained control for the remainder of the race, crossing the finish line to secure Indian’s fifth win of the season.
In Race 2, Gillim once again found himself trailing Wyman in the early stages of the race. However, the second-place seat was short-lived, as he quickly established control. From there, he maintained a consistent pace and built a lead of more than two seconds over the two trailing Harley riders, never relinquishing the top position on his way to securing a perfect weekend at Road America.
The two weekend victories marked a major milestone for Gillim, who surpassed 50 career race wins.
“Breaking the lap record was a great accomplishment, but for me, it’s all about winning races, and being able to leave Road America with two wins was pretty special,” said Gillim. “This team continues to perform at an incredibly high level, and that’s a credit to everyone at Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines. Reaching 50 career victories is something I’m extremely proud of but doing it while extending our undefeated streak at Harley Davidson’s home track makes it all the more memorable.”
The weekend allowed Indian Motorcycle Factory Racing to widen the gap in the King of the Baggers championship. Gillim’s series-leading 132 points and Herfoss’ 107 points place Indian Motorcycle firmly in control of the top two championship positions, while Harley-Davidson riders Bradley Smith and Kyle Wyman trail in third and fourth with 91 and 77 points, respectively.
The King of the Baggers season continues July 10-12 at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Sponsors for the 2026 Indian Motorcycle-Vance & Hines Factory Race team includes J&P Cycles, Motul, Progressive Insurance, Drag Specialties and Performance Finance.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.IndianMotorcycle.com.
ABOUT VANCE & HINES MOTORSPORTS
With nearly five decades of championship-winning experience, Vance & Hines Motorsports delivers proven performance through precision-built components and expert engine services. From advanced cylinder head development to high-performance engine components and closed-course competition exhaust systems, every product is engineered to give a decisive edge. Most recently, Vance & Hines Motorsports has expanded its offerings with a Pro Stock Motorcycle rental program, providing qualified independent racers with access to competitive, race-ready machinery at the professional level.
