Harley-Davidson's factory team sees a new name for 2024

BY: PUNYA SHARMA  COURTESY: TOPSPEED

MotoAmerica’s King Of The Baggers championship is the best spot for cruiser manufacturers to prove their mettle. And being America’s favorite bikemaker, Harley-Davidson is one of the biggest names in the biz. It runs a handful of teams, all of which have done quite well this year. Now, the company is setting eyes on the 2024 season, as it has announced a shake-up for the Screamin’ Eagle factory team.

Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli Will Ride For The Harley-Davidson Factory Team Next Year

The Screamin’ Eagle factory team for 2024 will comprise Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli. Wyman has been retained, following his impressive 2023 season, where he finished as the second runner-up. He won seven races this year to score 229 points. KOTB fans would also know he has the 2021 KOTB title to his name.

On the announcement, Wyman said, “Riding for the Harley-Davidson Factory Team has been a dream, and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to continue for two more seasons. We’ve had a lot of success in the class, but we have come up short of the championship two years in a row. Our goal is to win back the title in 2024 and I look forward to getting started with testing in the coming months.”

Rispoli, meanwhile, takes over Travis Wyman’s seat with a one-year contract. He finished 2023 as the championship runner-up, just 18 points behind the top spot. The rider also has an extensive history with Harley-Davidson, as he used to race the XR750 flat tracker in his teenage. Plus, Rispoli has two AMA Pro Racing Supersport championships to his name.

On the signing, Rispoli stated, “I am stoked to have signed with Factory Harley Davidson. It has been a dream of mine to be a factory rider ever since I was a little kid. Taking confidence and consistency paired with the backing of the factory, I know we are going to be a big threat in 2024. I am very excited to get to work.”

The 2024 King Of The Baggers Championship Will Have 16 Races

Besides the signing, you should know the 2024 King Of The Baggers championship has been extended from 14 races. There will be eight double-header weekends next year, meaning a total of 16 races. According to Jason Kehl (Harley-Davidson Director of Racing), next year will be “the largest, most demanding, and fastest King of the Baggers season to date.”

In case you’re curious, both Wyman and Rispoli will ride a race-prepped version of the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. The race bike has a sea of upgrades over the road bike, headline by a high-performance crate engine and Screamin’ Eagle exhaust. Around 150 horsepower is estimated, good enough for an over 160mph top speed. Ohlins suspension, forged 17-inch wheels, and loads of carbon (even the saddlebags are carbon) make it a serious track weapon.

Source - Harley-Davidson