Kyle Wyman Crowned 2025 King of the Baggers Champion at COTA: Harley-Davidson Dominates!
Hayden Gillim Sets Track Record, Briar Bauman Secures AFT Title in Thrilling Weekend
By Raine Devries
Harley-Davidson roared to victory at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, as Kyle Wyman clinched the 2025 Mission King of the Baggers championship with an unbeatable points lead. Riding a race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide powered by a Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine, Wyman secured his second career King of the Baggers title during the MotoAmerica double-header. Meanwhile, RevZilla/Vance & Hines rider Hayden Gillim smashed a track record and claimed a race win, while Briar Bauman capped the weekend with a Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) victory, securing the AFT Manufacturers Championship for Harley-Davidson.
Wyman’s Championship Triumph
Kyle Wyman’s dominant 2025 season in the Mission King of the Baggers series culminated in an insurmountable 70-point lead after 12 of 14 rounds. With seven race wins and three additional podiums, Wyman’s performance on the Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Race Team Road Glide was unmatched. His 25 career race wins lead the series, and this championship marks his second title, following his 2021 victory.
“It’s hard to put this moment into words,” Wyman said after receiving the champion’s #1 plate. “This team deserves it. They’ve worked so hard. My wife Hannah and I just welcomed our first child, and with James Rispoli wrapping up the Super Hooligan championship, it’s been an incredible year. Thanks to Harley-Davidson, we’re bringing this number one back to Milwaukee.”
Gillim’s Record-Breaking Victory
On Saturday, Hayden Gillim, riding for RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, set a new COTA track record in King of the Baggers qualifying with a blistering 2:12.975 lap on the 3.4-mile, 20-turn course. Gillim dominated the three-lap Mission Challenge race by 3.025 seconds and led the 7-lap main event from start to finish, crossing the line 3.317 seconds ahead of Factory Indian’s Loris Baz. Teammate Rocco Landers charged from eighth to third, joining Gillim and Wyman in a strong Harley-Davidson showing.
“This crew from Vance and Hines has been working hard all season,” Gillim said. “I got a good start, made it to the front, and just put my head down.”
Sunday’s Thrilling Race
Sunday’s King of the Baggers main event saw intense action. Wyman and Gillim collided in the tight first turn but stayed upright. Wyman led early, but Factory Indian’s Troy Herfoss took the lead on lap four. Gillim, after climbing to second, ran off the track and finished ninth. Wyman also went off-track on the final lap, allowing Herfoss to win, followed by Baz and Harley-Davidson’s Bradley Smith, who earned his third podium of the season.
“Patience got me on the podium today,” Smith said. “Kyle Wyman is the King of the Baggers champion, and we’re pumped to celebrate that number one.”
Points Standings
After 12 rounds, Wyman leads with 240 points, followed by Baz (170), Herfoss (158), Tyler O’Hara (128), Gillim (127), James Rispoli (110), and Smith (103). The Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Race Team, sponsored by Rockford Fosgate, Mission Foods, Brembo, Öhlins, Akrapovič, SYN3 lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts, will conclude the season September 26-28 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Bauman’s AFT Victory Seals Manufacturers Title
On September 13, Briar Bauman rode a Harley-Davidson XG750R to victory in the Progressive American Flat Track SuperTwins main event at the Arby’s Lake Ozark Short Track. Bauman’s eighth win of the season, combined with Brandon Robinson’s second-place finish, secured the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturers Championship for Harley-Davidson. Bauman finished second in the rider standings with 307 points, six behind champion Dallas Daniels.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Results – COTA
Race 1 (Saturday):
Hayden Gillim (Harley-Davidson)
Loris Baz (Indian)
Rocco Landers (Harley-Davidson)
Kyle Wyman (Harley-Davidson)
Bradley Smith (Harley-Davidson)
Race 2 (Sunday):
Troy Herfoss (Indian)
Loris Baz (Indian)
Bradley Smith (Harley-Davidson)
Cameron Petersen (Indian)
James Rispoli (Harley-Davidson)
Mission SuperTwins Results – Ozark Short Track
Briar Bauman (Harley-Davidson)
Brandon Robinson (Harley-Davidson)
Dallas Daniels (Yamaha)
Trent Lowe (Honda)
Bronson Bauman (Yamaha)
Why This Matters
Harley-Davidson’s dominance in both the Mission King of the Baggers and AFT series showcases the power and precision of their race-prepared motorcycles. With Wyman’s championship, Gillim’s track record, and Bauman’s AFT victory, Harley-Davidson continues to lead the charge in American V-Twin racing.
Love the Baggers!🏁