Hero MotoSports marks 10 years with Dakar partnership extension, new rider programme

Hero MotoCorp celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Hero MotoSports Team Rally by announcing a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening its rally-raid programme.

The company has renewed its partnership with the Amaury Sport Organisation [(ASO), organizers of the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, for another five years. It has also launched the ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ programme and signed young Indian off-road racer Shlok Ghorpade to its factory team.

The announcements were made during an event at Hero MotoCorp’s Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, which was attended by the team’s riders, including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo from Chile, and South African rider Michael Docherty. Hero MotoSports team manager Wolfgang Fischer and head of national motorsports Jordi Grau were also present.

The extended partnership with ASO will see Hero MotoSports continue its association with the organisers of the Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship over the next five years. The collaboration is expected to support the team’s long-term involvement in global rally-raid competition.

Hero MotoSports also introduced India’s Next Dakar Hero programme, which is designed to identify and develop young Indian rally-raid talent. Selected riders will undergo a training programme spanning two to three years, covering navigation, riding techniques, endurance, and physical conditioning before progressing to international rally events.

As part of its long-term talent development plans, Hero MotoSports has also inducted 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade from Satara, Maharashtra. The youngster has achieved remarkable success in the Indian Supercross circuit and has already begun training with the Hero factory rally team. He is also scheduled to undergo race simulation sessions in Morocco as part of his preparation for future Dakar Rally participation.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally has been participating in the gruelling Dakar Rally since 2017 and the year 2024 was one of its best performances with Ross Branch securing the second place overall in the rally.