Bradley Smith to Join Bagger World Cup Grid as Silverstone Wildcard
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will welcome another internationally recognised name to its grid at Silverstone, as Bradley Smith joins the championship as a wildcard entry for the British round, taking place August 7–9 alongside the MotoGP™ British Grand Prix.
The appearance of one of Britain’s most accomplished motorcycle racers adds a home hero to the grid for the championship’s first visit to Silverstone, creating new opportunities for British fans, media and the wider Harley-Davidson community.
The former MotoGP™ podium finisher will race a second entry fielded by ParkinGO Teamin collaboration with Harley-Davidson, alongside the team’s full-time Bagger World Cup rider Filippo Rovelli. The initiative further strengthens the collaboration between Harley-Davidson and ParkinGO Team while expanding the Italian team’s presence to a two-bike line-up for the British round.
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To celebrate the championship’s first visit to the United Kingdom, Smith’s motorcycle will feature a dedicated Silverstone livery, creating a fitting combination of an iconic British venue and one of Britain’s most recognisable motorcycle racers.
Fans can experience the championship from the heart of the action with the official Harley-Davidson Ticket Packages, which include access to the dedicated Harley-Davidson grandstand, the Harley-Davidson Village, rider autograph sessions, dedicated motorcycle parking, gear storage and exclusive Harley-Davidson hospitality experiences throughout the weekend. Tickets are available now through the official MotoGP™ ticketing platform.
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson
“Silverstone is the perfect occasion to welcome Bradley into the championship as a wildcard. Having a rider of his caliber competing in front of his home crowd gives British fans someone they immediately recognize and creates an even stronger connection with the event and with the championship itself.
From a Harley-Davidson perspective, Bradley’s priority remains the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers championship with our Factory Racing Team, but connecting him with the British Grand Prix and the Silverstone Circuit creates a unique opportunity for us to bring our two racing programs even closer together.
His situation will also be quite unique. While in America he competes as a fully supported Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider, at Silverstone he will race under the ParkinGO banner and receive exactly the same technical package and support available to every other Bagger World Cup rider and team. That’s an important part of the philosophy of this championship.
This initiative is about much more than simply adding another rider to the grid. It’s an opportunity to connect the British motorcycle community with one of the most historic circuits in Grand Prix racing, while further strengthening the collaboration between Harley-Davidson, MotoGP™ and the Bagger World Cup teams.”
Bradley Smith
“When the ParkinGO Team and Harley-Davidson approached me about Silverstone, it was a very easy decision to make. This will be my 14th British Grand Prix, and the opportunity to race in front of home fans is always extremely special. I’ve really enjoyed this new adventure with Harley-Davidson Factory Racing in MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers and this wildcard gives me the chance to experience the motorcycle back on the world stage. The Bagger World Cup has already shown to be very competitive, with many of my friends and rivals racing. Silverstone is a circuit I know extremely well and one that produces great racing. There will be few things to learn at Bagger World Cup, specially the different tyres. But these boys are stepping onto my home turf, so pride is at stake and the battle is on. Racing a Harley-Davidson in front of a home crowd at Silverstone makes this an opportunity to good to ignore. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there with your Britsh Flags.”
Edoardo Rovelli – Team Manager, ParkinGO Team
“Welcoming a rider of Bradley’s caliber into our garage is a great opportunity for the whole team. His experience at the highest levels of motorcycle racing, combined with his current involvement in MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers, brings valuable knowledge and a different perspective that will benefit everyone involved.
For ParkinGO, this project is also a source of pride. Silverstone is an important event for the championship and being entrusted with operating a second entry in collaboration with Harley-Davidson demonstrates the confidence that has been built between all parties since the beginning of the season. We are looking forward to working with Bradley and seeing what we can achieve together over the weekend.”
Bradley Smith is one of Britain’s most accomplished motorcycle racers. Runner-up in the 2009 125cc World Championship and third in the 2011 Moto2™ World Championship, he went on to establish himself in MotoGP™, where he competed for eight seasons and claimed multiple podium finishes before joining the Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Team in the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers championship. Since making the switch to bagger racing, he has consistently established himself among the series’ frontrunners, regularly fighting for podiums and victories.
The Silverstone round will mark the fourth event of the inaugural FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup season and the championship’s first visit to the United Kingdom, giving British fans their first opportunity to experience the Harley-Davidson Village, dedicated grandstand and the championship’s unique open-paddock concept.
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