DAKAR RALLY: Hero MotoSports ready for 2025 Dakar

Words & Images courtesy Hero MotoSports & ASO.

Indian motorcycle manufacturer Hero MotoSports, kicks off it’s 2025 rally raid season! With the knowledge of achieving two historic milestones in 2024.

They became the first Indian manufacturer to secure a podium at Dakar. 

They are also the first Indian team to claim a world title in the FIM Championship.

Their three-rider Hero MotoSports Team Rally line-up for this year’s Dakar Rally consists of;

• Botswanan Ross Branch
• Sebastien Buhler from Germany
• Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (better known as ‘Nacho’ Cornejo)

Branch is the defending FIM World Rally-Raid champion (W2RC).

Fondly known as the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’, Branch delivered Hero MotoSports their first-ever Dakar podium!

Finishing 2nd overall at Dakar 2024 – which was also the first round of the W2RC.

A month later, the Botswanan finished 2nd in the championship at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Moving up to the #1 spot in the Championship rankings!

He went on to finish 5th overall at both Rally Raid Portugal (April), and Desafio Ruta 40, Argentina in June.

This remarkable streak helped him maintain the lead position until the end of Round 5 in Morocco.

Another fifth-place finish eventually rewarded him and Hero MotoSports with the coveted crown.

Branch in illustrious company

The rally World Championship for bikes dates back to 2003. Since then 10 riders have etched their names into the FIM history books.

Ross Branch joins this prestigious list, as the eleventh rider. Becoming the first African rider to win the World Championship.

Making their indelible mark in history, team Hero MotoSports has reached the peak of racing glory! In their 8th year of racing.

This first FIM World title for the team, came in the same season it was close to winning the Dakar.

Branch’s title success cemented the Indian manufacturer’s place in the history of the sport. Making it the sixth manufacturer to earn a FIM World title!

Joining the big league of larger and more established teams.

After Branch won the title, Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, commented: “This is our moment of glory – forever etched in the annals of sporting history. Ross, our shining star has brought home our priciest possession – the World Championship. Our journey to this moment started exactly 8 years back – as a small setup with limited resources and big dreams. I’m extremely happy for Ross, and really proud of what our entire team has achieved through consistent hard work and dedication over the years.

“Building on our best-ever Dakar performance, we were able to continue our high-performance streak throughout the year – winning the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and finishing 2nd at the Rally Raid Portugal. Rallye Du Maroc, the last round of the race was of utmost importance – and our entire team stepped up to face this mammoth challenge.

“On behalf of the team I would like to thank our dear Chairman Dr. Pawan Munjal for his strong belief and continued support for us. A big congratulations and thank you also to all our partners, supporters, and fans across the globe. Now it’s time to celebrate! We’ll be back soon, see you at the Dakar!”

Ross Branch added: “No words can capture the magnitude of the incredible moment. I was thrilled to see the entire team’s hard work come together, and witnessing everyone’s happiness was a success in itself. I am fortunate to be part of such a passionate family! Thank you, to everyone who believed in me and provided me with the opportunity. It was truly overwhelming!

“As we look ahead to Dakar 2025, I see a bright future for our young team — this world title was just the beginning, one of the biggest steps in the right direction for Hero, and I am really excited about the future.”

The emergence of Hero MotoSports

Driven by passion and the spirit of adventure, Hero MotoSports say they are a cross-functional team of experts who live and breathe racing.

Headquartered at the Global Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT), Jaipur, India – the home of Hero MotoSports – and working in close collaboration with Hero Tech Centre Germany (HTCG).

A wholly owned subsidiary of Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the team is dedicated to strengthening the ‘Hero’ brand globally by participating in national and international rally races.

Founded in 2016, Hero MotoSports Team Rally is exclusively focused on the ‘Rally Raid’ category of motorsports.

In just under eight years, the team has experienced a meteoric rise due to their strong and gritty performances.

Quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in international rally sport.

A Proud Team.

The team proudly holds the distinction of being the first and only Indian team to have reached the prestigious podium.

This podium happens to be one of the toughest races on the planet – the Dakar Rally. Racing on their self-developed and ever-evolving Hero 450 Rally, team Hero MotoSports finished Dakar 2024 in the overall 2nd place.

With innovation at the core of its philosophy, the New Delhi (India) headquartered Hero MotoCorp, has been at the forefront of design.

As well as developing technologically advanced motorcycles and scooters for customers around the world!

It became the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in 2001, in terms of unit volume sales in a calendar year.

It has maintained the coveted title for the past 20 consecutive years.

With over 100 million satisfied customers across the globe, it continues to champion socio-economic progress.

Providing empowerment through its range of products and services.

Led by Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, it has taken rapid strides to expand its presence to 40 countries across Asia, Africa, and South & Central America.

Hero MotoCorp is a truly global enterprise with a workforce that comprises of people from different nationalities including;

• India
• Bangladesh
• Colombia
• Germany
• Austria
• Japan
• France

They are also the dominant market leader in India – the world’s largest two-wheeler market – with over 50% share in the domestic motorcycle market.

Hero MotoSports exists to test its products in the toughest terrains and races in the world – to become known for its robustness, reliability and quality.

Rally Sport allows Hero to bring more value-added products for millions of customers with top-of-the-line technology that has been put to test in some of the most extreme conditions on earth – be it the weather, the terrains or the competitors. And to put India on International Rally circuit.

Driven by passion and spearheaded by a team of world class experts, Hero says their MotoSports initiative reflects efforts towards making India a prominent entity in the world of motorsports, the company strongly believing that with the right support and focus, India can be developed into a MotoSports’ powerhouse. 

In perfect synergy with the vision and mission of Hero MotoCorp, Hero MotoSports will support in driving company’s brand building efforts across global markets, to become a global powerhouse of motorcycle manufacturing.

Hero MotoSports Dakar team

Ross Branch

• Born: 06/05/1986, Botswana
• Height:1.74m
• Weight: 79kg 
• Hobbies: Mountain bikes, golf, adventures
• Sponsors: Mack Air, Hero, Monster Energy, Alpine Stars
• Dakar racing number: 1

Fast Facts!

• Although he is now a factory rider for the Hero team, Ross Branch used to earn his living as an airline pilot back home in Botswana. It’s a job he continues to pursue part-time between rallies.
• After discovering motorcycling and rally-raid in the wide-open spaces of his native country, he set off on the 2019Dakar, finishing as best rookie in 13^th place overall. A year later, Branch continued to impress with his first stage victory.
• His results led him to join the factory Yamaha team. But his two Dakars in ‘blue’ ended in retirement.
• Branch began a new chapter in his motorcycling life when he joined the Hero team in India. It was an option that paid off, as he competed against the best, winning five special stages and finishing second in the last Dakar, just 10 minutes behind winner Ricky Brabec.
• The 2024 season was a new turning point in the 38-year-old rider’s career, as he clinched the W2RC title at the end of the Rallye du Maroc. Nicknamed the ‘Ferrari of the Kalahari’ by a Botswanan fan, Ross Branch is among the favourites for the 2025 Dakar.

Dakar 2025 Ambitions

“Finishing on the podium of the Dakar has always been our goal, and it was a dream come true in the last edition. As for winning the W2RC title, there are no words to express the magnitude of this incredible moment. I’m delighted to see all the team’s hard work come to fruition, and witnessing everyone’s happiness is an achievement in itself. I’m lucky to be part of such a passionate family! I must thank everyone who believed in me and gave me this opportunity. It’s truly extraordinary! It’s been a long journey, 34 years of motorbike racing. 

“Looking ahead to 2025, I see a bright future for our young team: this is just the beginning. This W2RC victory is one of Hero’s most significant steps in the right direction, and I’m very excited about the future. The Dakar will be really good in 2025. We still have a lot of work to do to get to the top step.”

Nacho Cornejo

• Born: 05/07/1994, Chile
• Height: 1.66m
• Weight: 69kg 
• Hobbies:Football
• Sponsors:Arai, Holding San Lorenzo, Cornejo’s Race Shop, Procircuit Moto Store.
• Dakar racing number: 11

Fast Facts!

• Thirty-year-old José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo will compete in his 10th Dakar, now with the Hero Motorsports Rally Team after six seasons with Honda.
• After his first two Dakars, Nacho Cornejo came into general consideration a few days before the 2018 edition – when he decided to retire for financial reasons – when he received a call from the Honda Team to join the team to replace the injured Paulo Gonçalves. ‘Nacho’ made the most of that opportunity, and in an impeccable performance, he finished 10th.
• His Dakar record includes six top-ten results, with his best finish of fourth in 2020. He won two stage victories, including the final stage.
• The 2021 edition was his most difficult. ‘Nacho’ was leading the general classification and was second on stage 10, one minute behind Ricky Brabec, when he had a severe crash at km 252 of the special stage. Although he completed the stage, he decided to retire from the race in agreement with the medical team. In 2022, he suffered a delay on the opening stage but bounced back with two stage wins. He showed great pace in the second week and finished a credible sixth place.
• In the last edition, Nacho displayed his speed, scoring three stage victories, although mechanical problems relegated him to sixth place in the final classification.
• Happy with his new team and teammates, Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler, the Morocco Rally was good for him personally and in helping his teammate Branch win the World Championship. This motivation and his work on the bike offer excellent prospects for this new Dakar.

Dakar 2025 Ambitions

“We had some very high points on the Dakar 2024. I was happy with the level we showed and the three stage wins. Unfortunately, some mechanical problems put me far behind in the general classification. After that came the team change, so rather than thinking about the W2RC result, the focus was on adapting to the new bike as soon as possible. It significantly changed my career after so many years with HRC, but everything happens for a reason. My teammates, the managers, mechanics, engineers, and the whole group behind the rally team warmly accepted me at Hero. They are a family, and everyone works together as a team. I am thrilled to be with them.”

“Then came the Desafío Ruta 40. The racing atmosphere in Argentina is always very good, and the people welcome us very well. But it was challenging for me, being the first race with the new bike. This rally was very good for me; I had excellent stages fighting for the top places, and in others, we had to work as a team and support Ross (Branch), but it was what we had to do. I’ve also found the settings that suit me on this bike, and my confidence in it has dramatically improved for the Dakar.”

“It will also be my tenth participation, and I will become a legend at 30 years old… Looking back, I don’t think that when I started, I would have thought I would do so many Dakars, let alone have ten editions at 30 years old, but everything has happened so quickly. I’m delighted with how everything has turned out, and I’m motivated to continue with this for many more years. Now, with my new team, it’s extra motivation; it gives me mental and emotional renewal that makes me happy. Regarding goals or results, I’m working hard to improve on my 4th place in 2020, which is my best result in Dakar.”

Sebastian Buhler

• Born on 13/10/1994, Germany
• Height: 1.75m
• Weight: 78kg 
• Hobbies: Motorbiking, mountain biking, rock jumping, surfing
• Sponsors:Bühler Technologies, V.M. Bühler, Shoei, CrossPro, G7, O Tarro, Monster Energy, Alpinestars, 100%

Fast facts!

• Sebastian may be flying the flag for Germany, but he has spent most of his life in Portugal, after his parents went on holiday there and liked it so much that they stayed! They bought Sebastian his first bike at the age of five, and by 13 he was racing competitively. He has gradually become one of the country’s references in off-roading. As well as winning the Portuguese all-terrain (TT) championship on several occasions, Sebastian claimed three consecutive victories at the prestigious Baja Portalegre 500 between 2018 and 2020, plus the FIM Bajas World Cup title in the Covid-hit 2020 season.
• He’d always dreamed of doing the Dakar, especially after going to watch the start of the rally in Lisbon in 2006 and 2007. He began his journey in 2019, finishing as the third-best rookie. He has had some ups and downs, abandoning due to engine failure in 2020, and then roaring into the top 15 in 2021, before being forced to sit out the 2022 edition with injury. He was competitive in 2023 but his overall ambition was ruined because of a fuel issue on the 4^th stage. He still managed to get back into the top 20.
• The official Hero rider had an eventful 2024 season, with some good performances but a painful start and finish. He fractured a vertebra at the beginning of the Dakar, then injured his collarbone (operated) and back during the Rallye du Maroc, in October. But he also had one of the highlights of his career when he rode in front of “his” crowd at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. He took the very first stage win of his W2RC career, showing that he has the qualities to fight among the best. His goals for the 2025 edition will depend on his physical recovery.

Dakar 2025 Ambitions

“We had some good results during the 2024 season, and it’s good to have been able to participate in several races. The team won the W2RC title with Ross and they really deserved it! We made some really good changes with Hero during the summer, the bike is almost completely new and all the riders like it! It’s much better and it’s very good for the Dakar. My recovery is going well since the crash during the Rallye du Maroc. I think I can arrive in good shape, but my goals will depend on my physical condition. If I see that I’m not at my best, I’ll ride to have fun and try to develop the bike, to help the team. Well, I say that but when you put the helmet on, it’s another story! I’ll see how the Dakar goes before setting my goals for the entire season.”

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