Hero MotoSports Team Rally Celebrates 10 Years; Launches ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ Programme in Jaipur
Jaipur, June 23 (TNT): Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hero MotoSports Team Rally at its Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) here on Tuesday, marking a decade of India’s growing presence on the global rally racing stage.
The milestone event brought together leading rally stars, including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, South American rider Nacho Cornejo, South African rally-raid and motocross rider Michael Docherty, Indian motocross and supercross rider Shlok Ghorpade, and pioneering Indian woman biker Somyya “Moksha” Chaudhary.
The celebration was attended by key members of the Hero MotoSports leadership team, including Head of MotoSports and Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer and Head of National MotoSports Jordi Grau, along with dealers, partners and members of the motorsports fraternity.
Marking the occasion, Hero MotoCorp announced three major initiatives that will shape the future of its rally racing programme.
The company renewed its partnership with Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the organisers of the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, for another five years.
Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Dr. Pawan Munjal also unveiled ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ (INDH), a first-of-its-kind talent identification and development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of Indian rally-raid riders.
The company further announced the induction of 18-year-old off-road racer Shlok Ghorpade into the Hero MotoSports Team Rally setup as part of its long-term talent development strategy.
Hosted at Hero MotoCorp’s state-of-the-art research and development facility, the event also featured a showcase of the team’s Dakar Rally machines and a special off-road riding demonstration by its star riders.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Munjal said Hero MotoSports Team Rally had evolved from a bold ambition into a globally respected rally racing team over the past decade.
He said the renewal of the partnership with ASO reflected the company’s long-term commitment to global rally racing, while the INDH programme was designed to discover and nurture India’s untapped motorsports talent.
Established in 2016, Hero MotoSports Team Rally was created to test Hero MotoCorp’s technology in some of the world’s toughest racing conditions while enhancing India’s presence in international motorsport.
Since then, the team has emerged as one of the leading rally-raid outfits globally, securing multiple podium finishes and notable victories in prestigious events such as the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
The newly launched INDH programme will provide selected riders with structured training in riding techniques, navigation, endurance and physical conditioning over a two-to-three-year period, preparing them for international rally-raid competition.
As part of the programme’s success story, Indian rider Arun Thayappa made his international rally-raid debut at the Cierzo Rally in Spain in September 2025 aboard the Hero 450 Rally prototype.
Hero MotoCorp said the new initiatives reaffirm its commitment to strengthening India’s presence in global motorsport and creating a sustainable pathway for Indian riders to compete at the highest levels of rally racing.
TNT KS
