May 10 (Reuters) - Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson ( HOG ) and MotoGP announced a new global racing series on Saturday which will launch in 2026, with teams riding bagger motorcycles at Grands Prix in Europe and North America.

Riders will be given race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide bagger motorcycles, which are touring-style bikes designed for long-distance riding.

The 12-race series will run at six Grands Prix on the MotoGP calendar and the grid is expected to have six to eight teams with two riders each.

"This is a bold new step for Harley-Davidson's ( HOG ) global racing ambitions," Harley-Davidson ( HOG ) CEO Jochen Zeitz said in a statement.

"With this new series, we're excited to bring a new form of racing to the world stage."

The teams will be supported by Harley-Davidson Factory Racing.