Round 3 of the inaugural FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup at the iconic TT Circuit Assen was a weekend that tested every single ounce of resolve within the Joe Rascal Racing garage. We didn't just line up against the best V-Twin racers in the world; we lined up against adversity itself.
What unfolded in the Netherlands wasn't just a bike race, it was a definitive statement of what this team is made of.
RIDING FOR A GREATER CAUSE
Before the engines even fired up, this weekend carried a profound weight. Following the tragic loss of his older brother Toby, Archie "Maddog" McDonald (#69) arrived at Assen determined to turn his grief into a beacon of support for others.
Partnering with The Push for Better Foundation, Archie has been working tirelessly supporting The Push-Up Challenge to raise critical funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our rider, the team rolled out a stunning, bespoke collaboration livery across our fleet of Harleys. With Toby’s name proudly displayed on Archie’s our bikes carrying the message to millions of fans worldwide, the Joe Rascal Racing garage became a vehicle for vital change.
THE WAR ON TRACK
Race 1: Wheelies, Blitzes and Incredible Fightbacks
Saturday afternoon’s 9-lap opener was, quite frankly, one of the most breathless displays of motorcycle racing you will see all year.
Eric Granado (#51) had already sent shockwaves through the paddock with a mind-bending 1:40.655 in qualifying to take pole. But when the lights went out, things didn't go as planned. The sheer, brutal torque of the Road Glide got the better of the Eric, sending him into a massive wheelie off the start grid. By the time he got the front wheel back on the tarmac, he had plummeted to 5th. What followed was a pure masterclass. Eric chipped away with surgical precision, breaking the championship record for fastest lap and carving his way back through the field to claim an astonishing victory by over two seconds. His first victory in the class and one we're sure he'll cherish forever.
Meanwhile, Archie McDonald was staging his own miracle. Earlier in the weekend, a massive crash in practice left Archie battered, bruised, and nursing multiple injuries. Under any normal circumstances, a rider would have sat the weekend out. Not Archie. Lining up 6th on the grid, he channeled pure grit to launch an absolute blitz on the opening lap, storming from the second row all the way into 1st place. As the race went on he couldn't quite hold the lead as the grueling laps ticked down, but he secured a brilliant 4th place finish against the odds.
Rounding out a stellar team performance, double MotoE World Champion Jordi Torres (#81) made his highly anticipated debut in Joe Rascal leathers. Stepping in for Cody Wyman, Jordi adapted to the 200-horsepower beast instantly, putting on a spectacular show to cross the line right behind Archie in 5th.
Race 2: Digging Deep for Championship Points
Sunday brought a fresh set of challenges and another heavy dose of bar-to-bar action as the field adjusted to the brutal Assen pace.
For Archie, Race 2 was a testament to sheer determination. With his body screaming from the previous days' exertions and injuries, he dug deeper than ever before. He rode a clever and incredibly tough race to bring the bike home in 5th place. Securing a 4th and a 5th over the weekend while carrying multiple injuries is a monumental achievement that has kept his championship hopes alive and kicking. The entire garage is bursting with pride for the raw iron will he displayed.
At the front, Eric found himself slipping from 1st to 4th off the start line, with Niti Racing’s Oscar Gutiérrez and Andrea Iannone quick to pounce. Eric continued to push the pace and once again broke the record for fastest lap in the series, but despite his best efforts, wasn't able to bridge the gap with Iannone & Gutiérrez on the day. Crucially, Eric secured a podium finishing in third place, and with those points he leaves Assen holding the official lead of the Bagger World Cup standings by two points heading into the next round.
Jordi continued his flawless integration into the squad, showing an incredibly steep learning curve. He backed up his Saturday performance with a brilliant, aggressive ride to claim an outstanding 4th place, finishing just off the podium in his very first weekend with the team and proving he is going to be a massive asset to the Joe Rascal camp.
THE ROAD AHEAD
We leave the Cathedral of Speed prouder than we have ever been. We showed that Joe Rascal belongs on the global stage, we proved our riders have the pace to win, and while winning was the goal, we raced for something much more important than podiums and points.
Our eyes are now firmly set on Round 4 at Silverstone (UK) from August 7–9, where we will Go Joe Rascal Fast once again. Until next time.