DAKAR RALLY: Hero Motosports successfully complete day one of 48H Chrono Stage
Words and images courtesy Hero MotoSports
Above Picture; Branch takes a leap of faith over one of the Stage2 dunes!
Day 1 of Stage 2
Hero MotoSports Team Rally successfully completed Day 1 of the Stage 2 at the Dakar Rally 2025.
In a thrilling first day of the highly anticipated 48h Chrono, Hero MotoSports Team Rally riders; Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo, finished 609 km of the challenging stage!
As of 5 pm on Sunday, Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo were positioned in 3rd and 11th spots respectively. This was the end of the first day in stage 2.
In the virtual overall rankings, Ross is currently at the 3rd place while his teammate Nacho holds 9th position.
Nacho Cornejo was 11th on the first day of the 48H Chrono stage, ninth overall
Upgrade…
The 48-hour Chrono stage, introduced at Dakar 2024, is a significant upgrade from the previous Marathon stages.
This year’s stage spans 1006 km over 2 days, with 947 km of timed specials.
On Sunday morning, all competitors embarked on the 48h chrono challenge with the first bike leaving at 6 am. They left their crews behind at the bivouac in Bisha…
After over 7 hours of navigating; complex dunes and overcoming intricate navigational challenges, competitors were instructed to halt. This occurred at the nearest Break Point zone as the clock struck 5 pm.
Ross Branch continues his good form to remain in the top three of the Rally
Only 21 out of 134 motorbike competitors, including both Hero MotoSports riders, have reached Break Point E. This is the second-last of six designated zones!
Isolation…
At this point, competitors receive basic camping supplies and provisions. They are isolated from the outside world, unaware of their standings.
Ross Branch’s outstanding performance as he currently stands in top 3 earned him valuable bonus points!
Which will be officially credited to his tally after the second half of the 48H Chrono stage conclusion…
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