Hayden Gillim

Hayden Gillim continues to redefine what it means to be a versatile competitor in the MotoAmerica paddock. Heading into the 2026 season, the speedy Kentuckian returns for another grueling year of double duty, once again splitting his focus between the premier Superbike Championship and the hard-hitting King of the Baggers (KOTB) Series.

The biggest storyline for Gillim this year is a high-profile manufacturer swap in the Bagger class. After a successful tenure with Harley-Davidson, Gillim is moving to Indian Motorcycle, a transition that has the entire industry watching. The move pairs one of the most adaptable riders in history with a platform he looks to return to the top of the standings, having previously secured the KOTB title in 2023.

Gillim’s 2025 campaign further cemented his status as a front-runner. In the Superbike class, he piloted the Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R SP to a consistent 8th place overall, amassing 16 top-10 finishes. The season reached a peak at the New Jersey finale, where he secured a hard-fought 3rd-place podium, his first-career Superbike podium. Simultaneously, he remained a force in KOTB, finishing 4th in the championship with four podiums and three race wins, including a dominant two-podium weekend at New Jersey.

From his roots in flat track to his 2014 AMA Pro SuperSport title and his historic dual-championship run in 2023, Gillim’s career is defined by an unmatched ability to jump between vastly different machines and win. Whether he’s leaning a Superbike at 180 mph or wrestling an Indian Bagger through the chicane, Gillim remains a relentless force and a perennial fan favorite.

Little Known Fact: Hayden is the cousin of the racing Hayden brothers. He won his first Amateur Dirt Track Grand Championship when he was just six. Gained a lot of recognition as star of Cycle World magazine’s “Man in a Van with a Plan” TV series documenting Hayden’s travels across the country racing in both road race and flat track events from 2016 to 2018.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 46 (18 in Stock 1000, 2 in Red Bull Rookies Cup, 5 in SuperSport East, 12 in Supersport, 9 in King Of The Baggers)
Podiums: 107 (1 in Superbike, 22 in Stock 1000, 8 in Red Bull Rookies Cup, 16 in SuperSport East, 5 in Superstock 1000, 33 in Supersport, 22 in King Of The Baggers)

2025 – Finished 8th in MotoAmerica Superbike racing the Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. Scored 16 top-10 finishes with the season highlight a podium (3rd) in the Superbike finale at New Jersey. Also race King of the Baggers with RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Finished 4th in the Baggers class on the strength of four podium finishes, including three wins. 2024 – Dominated the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship, winning seven races and eight podiums in all en route to the title. Raced a Real Steel Motorsports Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Raced select MotoAmerica Superbike races aboard the Real Steel Motorsports Honda. Scored eight top-10 finishes with a best result of fourth at Mid-Ohio. Finished third in the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship with Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Scored five Bagger podium finishes, including earning three victories (Brainerd sweep and race two win at Laguna Seca). Won the Loudon Classic (non-MotoAmerica event) and the $55,000 first prize. Also earned a podium finish (third) in the Daytona 200 riding with Vesrah Racing Suzuki. 2023 – Scored the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship riding for Disrupt Racing on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. He scored seven Stock 1000 podiums, six of those being wins. Won the King Of The Baggers Championship riding a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Scored three victories (Laguna Seca, Brainerd and New Jersey) in the class and tallied 11 podiums in the 14-race series. 2022 – Had an outstanding season racing for Disrupt Racing Suzuki in MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike. Finished runner up in MotoAmerica Stock 1000 scoring a total of seven podiums, including five wins. Did double duty and also scored eight in MotoAmerica Superbike with 13 top-10 finishes. Just missed the Superbike podium at Brainerd, finishing fourth, his top result in the class for the season. 2021 – Finished third in MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers. Scored a podium (third) at Road America. Raced for Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. 2020 – Raced in the King Of The Baggers Invitational at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca where he finished runner-up on his Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. 2019 – Finished third in MotoAmerica Supersport aboard a Rickdiculous Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Scored five wins and a total of nine podiums. 2018 – Was runner-up in MotoAmerica Supersport and scored four wins. Earned a podium in all but two rounds of the 17-race series. Raced a Rickdiculous Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. 2017 – Finished fifth in MotoAmerica Bazzaz Superstock 1000. Scored three podium finishes. Best result was second in the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. Raced a Cycle World/Suzuki-backed GSX-R1000. Won two rounds of the AFT Singles Championship (Springfield TT and Buffalo Chip TT). 2016 – Ranked fifth in the MotoAmerica Bazzaz Superstock 1000 on the strength of nine top-five finishes, including two podium results. Best finish was second in round six at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Raced with Cycle World Suzuki. Was ranked ninth in MotoAmerica Superbike, best result was fourth in round six at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Won the GNC2 class of the Peoria TT. 2015 – Raced a Veloce Racing MV Agusta in MotoAmerica Supersport. Earned 10 top-10 results, best was seventh (three times). 2014 – Won the AMA Pro Supersport Championship. Scored three victories and nine podiums en route to the title. 2013 – Finished second AMA Pro Supersport East. Scored six podiums, including two wins. 2012 – Won two races in AMA Pro Supersport East with six podiums in all and finished second in the series. 2011 – Finished second in the AMA Pro Supersport East division with four podiums, including a win in race two at Mid-Ohio. 2010 – Earned the prestigious AMA Sports Horizon Award at the AMA Road Race Grand Championships, contended WERA races to get acclimated to 600cc machines. 2009 – Chosen to compete in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup; turned in a season-best finish of tenth at the opening Jerez round. 2008 – Finished second in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Championship, earning eight podiums and two victories at Mid-Ohio and VIRginia International Raceway.