Indian Motorcycle is doubling down on performance bagger racing for 2026, announcing an all-new factory racing lineup and a major technical partnership with Vance & Hines Motorsports and Motul USA. The newly formed Indian Motorcycle–Vance & Hines factory team will carry the legendary “Wrecking Crew” banner into the upcoming MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Championship season with a clear objective: dominate the grid in 2026.
The collaboration marks a new era for Indian Motorcycle racing. By joining forces with one of the most respected names in V-twin performance engineering, the brand is strengthening its already formidable presence in bagger racing while continuing to evolve its race-winning platform.
HAYDEN GILLIM
TROY HERFOSS
ROCCO LANDERS
At the heart of the new Wrecking Crew is a three-rider roster stacked with championship pedigree. Leading the charge is Troy Herfoss, the 2024 King of the Baggers champion who quickly proved the race potential of the Indian Challenger platform. Joining him is Hayden Gillim, the 2023 series champion, and rising talent Rocco Landers, one of the sport’s most promising young riders.
Together, the trio brings a powerful mix of experience, proven racecraft, and youth to the program. With two recent champions in the saddle and a highly skilled developing rider rounding out the roster, the team enters the season with one of the most formidable lineups in the paddock.
The Weapon: A Vance & Hines–Built Indian Challenger
The Wrecking Crew will compete aboard a heavily developed race version of the Indian Challenger. Prepared and refined by Vance & Hines, the machine is powered by the brand’s liquid-cooled 112ci PowerPlus V-twin engine—an advanced overhead-cam platform that has already proven its strength in competition.
Since the King of the Baggers class debuted in 2020, the Indian Challenger has played a major role in reshaping expectations for performance baggers on the racetrack. Its blend of high horsepower, torque delivery, and chassis stability has helped the platform capture multiple championships and cement its reputation as one of the most capable machines in the series.
With Vance & Hines now leading development of the factory program, engineers will continue pushing the Challenger’s performance envelope as the series grows increasingly competitive.
Motul and Key Industry Partners Join the Effort
Backing the new Wrecking Crew is a strong group of partners, including Motul USA, along with additional support from aftermarket leaders and industry brands. The partnership brings together decades of racing heritage and engineering expertise, combining Indian Motorcycle’s legacy of competition with Vance & Hines’ nearly half-century of innovation in V-twin performance.
This level of technical collaboration underscores just how seriously Indian is approaching the next chapter of bagger racing.
A New Era Begins at Daytona
The Indian Motorcycle–Vance & Hines Wrecking Crew will make its official race debut at the 2026 MotoAmerica season opener during Daytona Bike Week at Daytona International Speedway. The March 5–7 double-header weekend will kick off a ten-round championship that visits some of the most iconic road courses across the United States.
For Indian Motorcycle, the mission is straightforward: continue building on its racing legacy and push the boundaries of performance bagger competition. With an elite rider lineup, a proven platform, and the engineering firepower of Vance & Hines and Motul behind the program, the Wrecking Crew is ready to write the next chapter in American V-twin racing history.
