After two long months away from the track, Round 2 of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup at Mugello had finally arrived.
We left Austin fuelled by Texas BBQ and landed in Tuscany ready to race, and equally ready to indulge in gelato, pizza, pasta and more podiums. But the real feast was the atmosphere at the track. The energy at Mugello was absolutely electric, with over 180,000 passionate Italian fans packing the hillsides. The roaring crowds turned the circuit into a sea of noise, colour, and pure motorsport devotion, perfectly matching the unmistakable Joe Rascal swagger we brought to the paddock this weekend.
COTA vs. Mugello: A Different Breed of Beast
COTA is famous for its anticlockwise layout, featuring 20 corners, ultra-fast flowing sections through Sector 1, and heavy first-gear braking zones at Turns 1 and 11. Mugello, by comparison, is a completely different beast.
Set amongst the rolling Tuscan hills, the clockwise circuit is home to 15 corners dominated by high-speed, sweeping sections like Casanova-Savelli and Arrabbiata. These are corners that push both aerodynamic performance and rider endurance to the absolute limit. Going into the weekend, Archie was hunting for another victory, while Eric and Cody were both determined to claim their first win of the season.
The Andrea Iannone Factor
Adding literal fuel to the fire this weekend was the highly anticipated introduction of former MotoGP star Andrea Iannone into the Bagger World Cup series. The Italian native delivered an absolute masterclass. Securing his maiden win in front of a deafening home crowd, Andrea Iannone’s Mugello victory proved that this series is attracting top-tier, world-class talent. Racing against Iannone in his backyard elevated the entire grid, making every single lap an absolute dogfight.
Dialling It In: Practice & Qualifying
Fuelled by that signature Joe Rascal grit, our riders hit the track hard to match the blistering pace of the locals during Free Practice 1. Eric Granado set the benchmark early, topping the timesheets with a fastest lap of 2:19.395. Archie McDonald finished a solid sixth, 2.746 seconds behind, while Cody Wyman came home eighth, 8.866 seconds off the pace.
By Free Practice 2, the pace had lifted dramatically as the track rubbered in. Eric finished third, just 0.154 seconds behind Andrea Iannone’s blistering 1:57.930. Archie secured fifth, 0.889 seconds off the lead, and Cody improved his times significantly to take seventh, 4.153 seconds behind.
Come qualifying, our riders were fired up and tapped into that relentless Joe Rascal mindset. They delivered when it counted, with Eric Granado claiming pole position with a stunning 1:56.704. Archie McDonald followed closely to qualify second on a 1:57.027, and Cody Wyman secured eighth on the grid with a 2:00.733.
Race Day: Double Podiums
With 180,000 Italian fans screaming from the grandstands, the boys put on an absolute clinic. Race 1 saw strong, calculated performances across the board, resulting in a phenomenal double podium. Eric Granado battled hard to finish second, Archie McDonald crossed the line right behind him in third, and Cody Wyman secured a solid seventh-place finish.
In Race 2, the team kept the momentum rolling. Fighting through the Tuscan heat, they closed out the weekend with another massive double podium. Eric once again took the second step on the box, Archie joined him in third, and Cody brought it home in a respectable eighth position.
Leading the Charge to Assen
As the dust settled on Mugello and the Italian crowds headed home, we looked at the points and realised exactly where we stand. The championship standings currently have Archie McDonald leading the pack in first place, Eric Granado right on his tail in second, and Cody Wyman holding strong in ninth.
We are officially leading the championship. As we pack up the garage and set our sights on the legendary "Cathedral of Speed" at Assen, we do so with a massive target on our backs and we wouldn't have it any other way. We'll be bringing the full force of the Joe Rascal spirit to the Netherlands. Assen, we're ready for you.