Hero MotoSports Team Rally kicks off with power at Dakar Rally 2025
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, Hero MotoCorp, has kicked off its campaign at the 47th edition of the Dakar Rally. This is the ninth consecutive appearance of Hero MotoSports at the world’s toughest race.
Competing with a stellar line-up of three Rally GP class riders – Ross Branch, Sebastian Buhler, and Nacho Cornejo – the team started the rally on an optimistic note by finishing a short, yet challenging 29 km Prologue stage.
Defending FIM World Champion Ross Branch stormed to an impressive second-place finish, setting the tone right for the team’s campaign. His teammate Sebastian Bühler crossed the finish line clocking the 9th fastest time, while Nacho Cornejo finished at the 20th position – all three of them competing in the Rally GP class.
335 vehicles made it to the start line of Dakar 2025, after successfully completing the administrative and technical scrutineering in the previous days. There are 580 competitors representing 52 nationalities at this Dakar. 134 of them are on motorbikes, which include 21 top-tier riders in the Rally GP class, and another 113 competing in Rally 2.
The weather at Bisha has been unfavourable so far, with strong winds and sandstorms making Dakar 2025 very challenging for the competitors at the bivouac, even before the official start! As a result, the Dakar organizers had to move around some of the preparatory operations to safer locations to adapt with the adverse conditions.
Dakar 2025 which started today with a Prologue will continue for 12 stages spanning 7,700 kilometers across the vast Arabian desert. For the first time, FIM and FIA vehicles will go on separate courses across almost a staggering 45% of the overall distance. New and upgraded challenges await the competitors, including the return of the 48-hour Chrono stage – a challenging two-day effort where competitors are forced to shut off their engines at sunset, and survive on their own in secluded areas set up in the middle of the desert.
Stage 1 tomorrow will be a 500 km loop exploring the desert south of Bisha. Except for sand, competitors will be racing on all sorts of surfaces including rocky and stony surfaces – requiring them to adjust their speed on a regular basis. Around the halfway point, navigation is expected to be trickier, with the appearance of a maze of tracks. Armed with a solid Prologue result, the Hero MotoSports team is in great spirits, and prepared to ace the battle.
Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports, said, “The Prologue is always an adrenaline-pumping start to the Dakar Rally and everything went well for the team. Ross has given us a great start with a solid second place finish, and will get to choose a late starting position for tomorrow’s stage. Basti slightly missed coming in the top ranks, but has found a good rhythm. Nacho had a good start in the Prologue, but faced a slight issue in the later half. He is a good navigator – so he has the pleasure of opening the Stage tomorrow. We are happy to be at the start of yet another Dakar, and are looking forward to delivering a thrilling performance this season.”
Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “The Prologue was quick and easy. The bike is performing exceptionally well, and the team has been fantastic. I’m feeling good and happy to be here, and I’m ready to take on the challenges of this Dakar Rally.”
Sebastian Buhler, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “The Prologue was an exciting start to the Dakar Rally. I enjoyed riding at high speeds, and the bike handled beautifully. We’re looking forward to a thrilling rally ahead.”
Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “The Prologue didn’t quite go as planned – I made a small mistake and lost some time. I’m focused on making a strong comeback tomorrow. We’re all set for Stage 1, and we’ll give it our all.”
Provisional Rankings – Prologue Stage (Rally GP Class)
- Daniel Sanders Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 10m 01s
- Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 12s
- Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team + 18s
- Sebastian Buhler Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01m 00s
- Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 02m 39s
(PRESS RELEASE)
(Edited by India.com Sports Desk)