Hero MotoCorp’s racing division, the Hero MotoSports Team Rally has created a new benchmark in the history of motorsports in India. The brand has become the first ever Indian manufacturer team to finish on the podium of the Dakar Rally 2024.
Botswana motorcycle racer, Ross Branch finished the Rally at the second place for the team. The rider also led the team to first and second spots in the overall rankings throughout the Dakar Rally. Also during this edition, the team achieved two stage wins. With this new achievement, the motorsports team has shown a solid growth curve.
Hero MotoSports Ross Branch Land on the Podium at Dakar 2024
The 46th edition of the Dakar Rally commenced from AlUla and finishes at Yanbu. Ross Branch reveals that finishing on the podium was a dream come true. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager & Head, Hero MotoSports Team Rally also wants to dedicate the 2nd position win to Paulo Goncalves and the team carries his never-give-up attitude.
In this edition of the Dakar Rally, Joaquim Rodrigues and Sebastian Buhler suffered injuries. The third rider Joan Barreda also had to retire due to an unfortunate mechanical failure in Stage 6. This meant that three out of four Hero riders dropped out in the first week itself, leaving the torch in hands of Ross Branch. However, Ross Branch made it look easy and conquered the desert.
Dakar Rally 2024
For 2024 the already gruesome Dakar Rally now brings a 48H chrono stage. During the event the competitors are split away from their teams and survive on bare minimum essentials. This year the Dakar Rally had one of the most confusing navigations, longer stages and extreme terrains. This also emphasised as the race goes through the Empty Quarter which is the world’s largest sand sea holding about half as much sand as the entire Sahara Desert.
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