Motul Powers Through a Historic Weekend of Global V-Twin and Bagger Racing

Motul Powers Through a Historic Weekend of Global V-Twin and Bagger Racing

The last weekend in May of 2026 will go down as a milestone for V-Twin performance and heavy-weight road racing. From the high-speed straights of America's iconic Road America to the legendary curves of Mugello, Italy, Motul-supported teams and riders delivered world-class performances, capturing trophies and pushing engineering boundaries across two continents. 

Gillim Leads the Charge at Road America 

At MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers double-header at Road America, the Wisconsin weather was glorious and the atmosphere was electric. Hayden Gillim, piloting his Motul-lubricated Vance & Hines Indian Challenger, put on a masterclass in tactical racing. 

Gillim led the hard-charging pack of bagger racers through intense battles on both Saturday and Sunday. Despite fighting relentless pressure from Harley-Davidson riders Kyle Wyman and Bradley Smith, Gillim locked down runaway podium victories on both Saturday and Sunday. Wyman and Smith fought fiercely to claim second and third on both afternoons, making for an unforgettable weekend of premier American V-Twin rivalry. 

Saddlemen's Dual-Continent Strategy 

The weekend showcased an incredible logistical feat for the Motul-sponsored Saddlemen Race Development squad. As the lone American team crossing the Atlantic to compete in Harley-Davidson’s Bagger World Cup during the MotoGP races in Mugello, Italy, Saddlemen riders Cory West and Jake Lewis were on the ground in Tuscany, flying the American flag against global competition. 

With West and Lewis handling business in Italy, Saddlemen brought in an exciting talent pool to hold down the fort back home at Road America. Nolan Lamkin and Maxwell Toth stepped up as fill-in riders, making their official debut in the King of the Baggers series. Both riders adapted beautifully to the power and size of the race-prepped Harleys, managing the technical demands of the 14-turn Wisconsin circuit with incredible poise. 

Creating New Competitors with Royal Enfield's Build, Train, Race 

Motul’s trackside presence also extended to the massive technical bay of the Royal Enfield Build, Train, Race (BTR) program. This initiative highlights technical and track skill, guiding ten female riders through the process of building their own race bikes, honing their racing skills (coached by racing legend Freddy Spencer), and competing at four MotoAmerica Nationals. All ten riders delivered a strong, consistent showing at Road America, demonstrating the mechanical knowledge and competitive spirit that Motul is proud to support. 

 Whether engineering lubricants to survive the torque of a nearly 200-horsepower racing bagger or supporting development of new racers on the national stage, Motul is proud to be co-creators of performance at every level, around the world. 

Words By: Steve Piehl

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