KING OF THE BAGGERS GROWS: INDIAN MOTORCYCLE TO SUPPORT 10 TEAMS THROUGH 2028
Editor’s Note: The following is a press release provided by [Company/Organization Name], slightly edited for style and clarity.
Indian Motorcycle is expanding its commitment to MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers series with the introduction of the ARO (American Racing Operations) factory-supported team/rider program, a new factory-support program designed to broaden the company’s presence on the MotoAmerica grid, while helping to strengthen the future of one of American motorcycle racing’s most popular classes.
Through the ARO factory-supported team/rider program, Indian Motorcycle will offer factory-level support, including motorcycle transportation, race-to-race maintenance and tires for up to 10 teams competing in Mission King Of The Baggers. Providing the perfect opportunity for individual sponsors to be involved, the program includes race-ready ARO-built Indian Challengers, along with technical and logistical support throughout the racing season. The expanded program will operate in partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports, Indian Motorcycle’s partner for race motorcycle development, technical support and overall program management.
In addition to a MotoAmerica purse that is more than twice as large for 2027, the new team/rider program also includes a contingency program from Indian Motorcycle that financially rewards riders for varying levels of performance at every Mission King Of The Baggers round. The program offers more than $150,000 over the course of the season for Indian Motorcycle riders, including a $20,000 bonus and brand-new Indian Challenger for the season championship.
The announcement represents a significant expansion of Indian Motorcycle’s racing commitment in America at a pivotal moment for Mission King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is evolving the class regulations to welcome additional manufacturers and broaden the competitive landscape of the series.
Indian Motorcycle enthusiastically supports this direction.
“Indian Motorcycle believes in competition. Real competition. It’s what makes racing meaningful, it’s what makes champions, and it’s what makes the sport exciting for the fans,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “We want to race against the best, regardless of who builds the motorcycle. We’re willing to accept the challenge, and the possibility that we won’t win every race, because that’s what real competition is all about.”
For seven years, Mission King Of The Baggers has helped redefine American motorcycle racing, delivering an entirely new level of excitement and attracting passionate fans who have embraced the spectacle of high-performance American baggers competing on some of the country’s most challenging racetracks. Indian Motorcycle has been at the center of that story, building a championship-winning legacy around the Indian Challenger and the PowerPlus platform, while establishing the series as a major attraction within American motorsports.
“MotoAmerica has been a valued, trusted partner for Indian Motorcycle, and we have an enormous amount of respect for what they’ve built with Mission King Of The Baggers,” Kennedy continued. “The fans have made this series something special. They want to see manufacturers competing head-to-head, pushing their engineering, their riders and their motorcycles to the limit. They deserve that kind of racing, and we believe it’s our responsibility to help deliver it.”
The initiative creates an opportunity for more teams and talented riders to become part of Indian Motorcycle’s expanded factory racing effort, providing a pathway to compete with factory-level backing in one of the most exciting classes in American road racing.
“This new program is about putting more Indian Motorcycles on the grid, supporting the people who race them, and making sure we continue to raise the bar,” said Kennedy. “We want other manufacturers to look at what we’re doing and recognize that we’re serious about the future of this class. We hope they’ll make the commitment to join us.”
Indian Motorcycle invites professional teams and riders interested in competing in MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers series with factory support to submit their credentials for consideration.
Qualified applicants should contact Craig Koontz, Racing Team Manager for Vance & Hines Motorsports at [email protected]. Vance & Hines Motorsports will work collaboratively with Indian Motorcycle to evaluate candidates and select teams. Additional program information is available through Vance & Hines Motorsports.
