BAGGERS RULE

Patricia Fernandez-West, and Cory West race in the MotoAmerica series for Team Saddlemen, which is supported directly by Harley-Davidson. In the Mission King of the Baggers class Patricia and Cory race 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited motorcycles powered by Screamin’ Eagle TwinCooled 131ci Milwaukee-Eight powertrains. In the Mission Foods Super Hooligan class they race stripped-down and highly modi ed Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250s. Their bikes in both classes feature Saddlemen’s latest carbon ber race bodywork.

Patricia and Cory are joined by two other notable racers at Team Saddlemen, Frankie Garcia (#14) and Jake Lewis (#85). To have four top competitors as part of Team Saddlemen for the 2023 King of the Baggers season de nitely ups the odds of podium spots for Harley-Davidsons overall.

Saddlemen’s sponsors include Harley-Davidson, Screamin’ Eagle, Mission Foods (That’s who makes the chips and salsa Patricia mentions.), Darkhorse Motor Company, Suicide Machine Company, Motul, NAMZ Custom Cycle Products, and 4SR. Hoban Brothers Racing facilitates the team’s racing effort at the racetrack.

The Mission King of the Baggers class limits motorcycles to those man- ufactured by Harley-Davidson and Indian. The baggers are highly modi ed road-racing machines with improved ground clearance, race suspensions, aggressive ergonomics, and numerous engine mods resulting in crazy performance. There is a minimum weight limit of 620 pounds, and the motorcycles must maintain touring fairings and bags, but they can be made of carbon ber and other exotic materials.

The Mission Foods Super Hooligan races are only featured at four rounds—Daytona International Speedway, Ridge Motorsports Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and Circuit of The Americas. The class is open to as many brands as possible and features air-cooled, water-cooled, and electric motorcycles, making it an entertaining mishmash of mayhem.

Racing can be watched live for a fee on the MotoAmerica Live+ app, but being there in person is best. When you stop by to see Patricia and Cory be forewarned that they are a show within the MotoAmerica show, having a huge following that includes the highly respected Latin American Motorcycle Association (LAMA) among many more fans. Arrive early at the autograph sessions.