Joe Rascal is proud to announce the signing of Italian rider Gabriele Ruiu for the 2027 FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Tuned by Dyno Jet season, strengthening the Australian team's international line-up as it prepares to return to the championship following a historic debut year.
Ruiu joins Joe Rascal as the team looks to build on an extraordinary 2026 campaign,
which saw the Australian outfit establish itself as a leading force in the inaugural season.
With reigning World Champion Archie McDonald already confirmed to return for 2027,
Ruiu's arrival marks another significant step in the team's continued growth and
commitment to competing at the highest level of international motorcycle racing.
Born in Italy, Ruiu brings a wealth of international racing experience to the team, having
competed across several highly competitive championships throughout his career. In
2018, he made history as the first rider born in the 2000s to compete in the FIM
Superbike World Championship, demonstrating his talent and ambition on the world
stage at a young age.
His racing career has also included experience in Moto2, the FIM Supersport World
Championship, the European Superstock 1000 Championship and the Italian Superbike
Championship, providing him with a diverse background across a range of machinery
and racing disciplines.
Ruiu's arrival brings another exciting dimension to Joe Rascal's 2027 campaign, with his
experience, determination and adaptability expected to be valuable assets as the team
continues to develop its Harley-Davidson racing programme.
James Tonna, Team Co-Owner Comments: “We are excited to welcome Gabriele to the
Joe Rascal family for 2027. He brings a wealth of international racing experience, and we
believe he will be a great addition to the team as we build on what we achieved in our
first season. 
Having Gabriele on board also opens up an exciting opportunity for us to connect with a
new audience in Italy, a country with such a rich motorsport history and a passionate
racing community. We are excited to see what Gabriele and Joe Rascal can achieve
together next season.”
Gabriele Comments: “I’m really excited to be joining Joe Rascal for the 2027 Bagger
World Cup season.
After spending so many years racing in Superbike, this is something completely
different for me, but it’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.
I’m excited to get on the bike, learn as much as I can and use the experience I’ve gained
over the years to push for some strong results.
A big thank you to everyone at Joe Rascal for believing in me and giving me this
opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting to work with the team and seeing what we
can achieve together. See you on track in 2027!”
The signing follows an exceptional first season for Joe Rascal in 2026. Across six
championship rounds and 12 races, the team secured an impressive 21 podium
finishes, including four victories, seven second-place finishes and nine third-place
finishes.
The team's debut campaign was highlighted by Archie McDonald's historic World
Championship victory, becoming the inaugural World Champion at just 20 years old.
Joe Rascal also celebrated several milestones throughout the season, including victory
in the championship's first-ever race at Circuit of the Americas and a complete
podium sweep at Silverstone.
Having established itself as one of the championship's most competitive teams, Joe
Rascal enters its second season with ambitions extending beyond defending its
inaugural World Championship title.
The addition of Ruiu also reflects the team's growing international presence, bringing
together riders and talent from across the globe under the Joe Rascal banner. As the
championship continues to expand, the Australian team remains focused on building
a competitive programme capable of delivering results both on and off the track.
With McDonald and Ruiu now confirmed for the 2027 season, Joe Rascal is continuing
preparations for its return to the world stage, with further announcements regarding
the final rider to complete the team's rider line-up to follow.