THE RACE TO 700
Words and images courtesy of American Flat Track
You race to win, and no manufacturer in the seven-plus decade history of the prestigious Grand National Championship has won as often as Harley-Davidson.
Not even close.
In fact, during that span H-D has racked up nearly 40 more victories than all other makes combined. That’s a winning tradition that has been made real again thanks to the resurgent XG750R, which reeled in more wins than any other machine in 2025 (nine of 16) and has already locked up those honors again in 2026 (currently at nine with two races yet to go).
There’s an opportunity this season to hit another unprecedented milestone. With the crown jewel of the Progressive American Flat Track calendar – the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II – set to serve as the year’s double-finale, Harley-Davidson will arrive at the Illinois State Fairgrounds sitting at 699 premier-class wins.
And it just so happens that the precipice of history provides a good vantage point from which to view the racebikes that have contributed to that remarkable tally:
The Flagships
The bikes that championships are built upon…
YOU RACE TO WIN, AND NO MANUFACTURER IN THE SEVEN-PLUS DECADE HISTORY OF THE PRESTIGIOUS GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HAS WON AS OFTEN AS HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XR750
501 victories
First win: 1970
Final win: 2017
The XR750 is an undisputed icon and arguably the most successful racing machine all-time across the entirety of motorsport. All by itself, the XR boasts more wins than manufacturers two, three, four, and five counted together.
With some 500 wins, nearly 40 Grand National Championships, and more than a half-century of relevance, the likes of the XR were never seen before and are unlikely to be seen again.
The 748cc air-cooled v-twin designed in response to 1969’s rule changes proved both a legend and a legend maker; of the ten winningest riders in the sport’s history, all but two took victories aboard the XR. Its leading proponents’ victories are measured by the dozens, with Scott Parker’s not far removed from the century mark.
The initial ‘Iron’ model was campaigned in 1970 and 1971, where it took nine wins. It was quickly replaced by the more powerful and more reliable alloy version, which featured an all-aluminum head and cylinder package, along with a shorter stroke.
That version would go on to add 492 wins to the overall mark and prove competitive enough to earn Main Event podiums and challenge race wins in 2024, its final year of eligibility.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON KR
129 victories
First win: 1954
Final win: 1969
While the modern-day XG was faced with the difficult task of following a legend, the XR faced a similar uphill climb taking over for the KR750.
This flathead v-twin was introduced a year before the Grand National Championship was first organized as a season-long championship in 1954 and proved well poised to reign supreme over the series initial decade-and-a-half.
The KR was an excellent Miler and Half-Miler, and its fully-faired KRTT version was likewise adept on pavement. The KR even managed to pick up a small handful of TT wins along the way.
As it so happens, the KR itself was forced to replace the legendary pre-GNC Harley-Davidson WR racer. Are you sensing a theme here?
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XG750R
18 victories and counting
First win: 2025
Final win: ?
The XG750R was something of a late bloomer. First campaigned by the factory team during the 2016 season, the bike went winless for nearly a decade.
While it took its time to find its footing – and at one point seemed as if time had passed it by – it’s certainly on the fast track now.
Once the regulations came into alignment with the production-based bike’s original intent, the XG750R reemerged as a serious weapon. Piloted by the likes of Briar Bauman, Kody Kopp, and Brandon Robinson, the XG is more likely to win on any given day than any other bike in the field.
Over the past two seasons, the XG750R has racked up wins across all four disciplines – Mile, Half-Mile, TT, and Short Track – and only continues to pick up steam.
OVER THE PAST TWO SEASONS, THE XG750R HAS RACKED UP WINS ACROSS ALL FOUR DISCIPLINES – MILE, HALF-MILE, TT, AND SHORT TRACK – AND ONLY CONTINUES TO PICK UP STEAM.
The Specialists
Traditionally, Harley’s big twins have owned the big tracks. In year’s past, the factory team would often turn to more specialized equipment for the more idiosyncratic TTs and tighter STs.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROTAX
23 victories
First win: 1983
Final win: 1998
Powered by Austrian-made Rotax-single-cylinder mills, these H-D-badged racers allowed Harley-Davidson factory-backed racers to be fully competitive across the Grand National Championship schedule.
These bikes, which included 500cc, 560cc, 600cc, and 660cc versions, notched up nearly two dozen TT and ST wins during their era.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CR SPRINT
11 victories
First win: 1961
Final win: 1970
The CR Sprint is the spiritual predecessor to the later Rotax-powered bikes.
Harley-Davidson leaned upon its partnership with Italian aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer Aermacchi for the development of a lightweight single. The CR Sprints were terrific Short Trackers and capable enough to collect premier-class wins in TT and Roadracing along the way as well.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLR
10 victories
First win: 1959
Final win: 1972
The TT-centric XLR claimed wins across the KR and XR eras. This Sportster-based 883cc overhead-valve production racer was a toque monster that racked up double-digit wins in its time.
THE CR SPRINTS WERE TERRIFIC SHORT TRACKERS AND CAPABLE ENOUGH TO COLLECT PREMIER-CLASS WINS IN TT AND ROADRACING ALONG THE WAY AS WELL.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MX250
4 victories
First win: 1977
Final win: 1982
Harley-Davidson took full ownership of Aermacchi in 1974 and called upon it to develop a 250cc air-cooled, two-stroke single-cylinder motocrosser.
The design also proved itself well suited to Short Track racing, where it reeled in four premier-class Grand National Championship wins.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON KHR
3 victories
First win: 1954
Final win: 1961
This larger-displacement (888cc) take on the flathead KR was used to winning effect on three occasions in the 80ci class at the Peoria TT (plus once there in 1952 prior to the start of the modern Grand National Championship era).
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