Hero MotoSports Team Rally at Rallye Du Maroc
The Hero MotoSports Team Rally has kicked off its journey at the final round of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship 2024, known as the Rallye Du Maroc. This event, often called a “mini-Dakar,” began with a Prologue stage where Ross Branch finished in second place.
Team and Performance
The team, riding Hero 450 Rally bikes, includes Ross Branch, Sebastian Buhler, and Nacho Cornejo. After completing necessary checks, they started the Prologue stage at the Rally HQ in Marrakech. The Prologue featured a 25 km special and 49 km of road sections. In the Rally GP Class, the Hero riders finished 2nd, 7th, and 12th.
Season Highlights
Hero MotoSports has been leading the World Championship 2024 since its second round. The team has shown strong performances, including a 2nd place at the Dakar, a win at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and a 2nd place at Rally Raid Portugal. Ross Branch leads the championship with 72 points.
Rallye Du Maroc Details
The rally covers 2,488 km over six days, from Marrakech to Mengoub-Bouarfa, via Zagora. A total of 267 vehicles, including 134 bikes, are competing. The event features rocky sections, sand dunes, and desert storms. It is the first official race for Rally GP class riders using electronic road books.
Quotes from the Team
Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer expressed excitement about the race, highlighting the team’s consistent performance. Ross Branch enjoyed returning to racing after a break, while Sebastian Buhler and Nacho Cornejo shared their experiences of the Prologue.
Provisional Rankings – PROLOGUE (Rally GP Class)
| Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tosha Schareina | Monster Energy Honda Team | 00h 16m 54s |
| 2 | Ross Branch | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 18s |
| 3 | Daniel Sanders | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | + 18s |
| 7 | Sebastian Buhler | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 48s |
| 12 | Nacho Cornejo | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 2m 10s |
Doubts Revealed
Hero MotoSports -: Hero MotoSports is a team that participates in motorcycle racing events. They are part of Hero MotoCorp, which is a big company in India that makes motorcycles and scooters.
Rallye Du Maroc -: Rallye Du Maroc is a famous motorcycle and car race that takes place in Morocco, a country in North Africa. It is known for its challenging desert terrain.
Ross Branch -: Ross Branch is a professional motorcycle racer from Botswana. He is known for participating in international rally races like the Rallye Du Maroc.
FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship -: This is a series of races for cars and motorcycles that take place in different countries. FIA and FIM are organizations that help organize and regulate these races.
Prologue stage -: The Prologue stage is the first part of a rally race. It is usually a short race that helps determine the starting order for the main race.
Hero 450 Rally bikes -: Hero 450 Rally bikes are special motorcycles made by Hero MotoCorp for racing in tough conditions like deserts and mountains.
Sebastian Buhler -: Sebastian Buhler is a motorcycle racer who competes in rally races. He is part of the Hero MotoSports team.
Nacho Cornejo -: Nacho Cornejo is a professional motorcycle racer from Chile. He races in international rally events and is part of the Hero MotoSports team.
Wolfgang Fischer -: Wolfgang Fischer is the Team Manager for Hero MotoSports. He helps organize and lead the team during races.
