Former MotoGP rider Loris Baz clinched his maiden King of the Baggers victory on Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, navigating treacherous wet conditions to take a dramatic win in the MotoAmerica series.
Riding the S&S/Indian Motorcycle Indian Challenger for the first time, Baz overcame early struggles and surged past rivals in the final moments of the race.
Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman looked set to win, leading most of the race, but Baz gradually reeled him in. After passing teammate Troy Herfoss for second, Baz brilliantly overtook Wyman on the back straight on the last lap and held on through Turn 10A to win by just 0.199 seconds.
Reflecting on the race, Baz said:
“It went from just trying to survive to seeing I was catching. I almost crashed 25 times! The front didn’t feel right, but I found new lines, adjusted my braking, and decided to take the risk.”
Baz, a French rider, is in his third MotoAmerica season but switched to the King of the Baggers class in 2025 after racing in MotoGP, World Superbikes, and British Superbikes.
Despite being unfamiliar with riding without traction control in the rain, Baz adapted quickly.
“First time on a bike with no TC in the wet in 15 years. My crew did an amazing job guessing the setup. I’m proud of what we’re building.”
Baz’s gritty win marks a major moment in his diverse career and adds another chapter to his racing legacy across multiple top-tier championships.
