Hero MotoSports has turn out to be the primary Indian crew to win a World Rally-Raid Championship spherical, with Aaron Mare’s victory within the 2024 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. With this, the crew additionally rises to the highest of the RallyGP rankings, 13 factors forward of Honda, who didn’t take part within the spherical.

The crew additionally made historical past on the Dakar Rally earlier this 12 months, with Ross Branch’s second place consequence.

1. Aaron Mare his first World Championship race
2. Hero main championship, forward of Honda

Aaron Mare wins Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge for Hero

Mare was referred to as in as a last-minute alternative for Sebastian Buhler, who remains to be recovering from his Dakar crash. The South African ended up successful two levels en path to taking general victory, 4mins 56secs forward of Duust Rally Team’s Konrad Dabrowski.

“It was an amazing opportunity, and I made the most of it. I was also fortunate to ride along with Ross Branch who came fresh from his Dakar podium, and learnt a lot from him. We were teammates several years back, and it was a wonderful time spent with him here,” stated Mare.

Hero, Branch lead World Rally-Raid Championship

Dakar 2024 podium finisher Ross Branch encountered a technical challenge on Stage 1 and misplaced almost 45 minutes because of this. But he made up for misplaced floor over the following couple of levels and completed fourth general.

This handed him simply sufficient factors to take the lead within the World Rally-Raid Championship, overtaking Honda’s Ricky Brabec. Hero MotoSports additionally strikes to the highest of the producer’s chief board within the championship.

Interestingly, Hero confronted a variety of setbacks even earlier than the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge began. Customs clearance points and the last-minute rider change left the crew with just below a day to organize for the rally.

“We are very happy to be at the finish line as winners of this iconic race! As a team, our achievement is triple-fold – it’s our first victory at a World Championship race, it’s the first time we are leading the World Championship Rider rankings (with Ross), and it’s also the first time Hero is leading the Manufacturer rankings in a World Championship!” stated Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer.

“It has been a roller-coaster week for us – a last minute replacement for Sebastian, and then delayed arrival of our bikes from customs. However, I am really happy with how Aaron stepped up to the challenge and did a wonderful job all through the race, bringing us this fantastic result. Ross was also able to earn the maximum points in the World Championship. I’m extremely happy with what the team has achieved, and look forward to the rest of the season.”

Hero MotoSports will subsequent compete within the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid from April 2-7. The third spherical of the World Rally-Raid Championship will cowl 1000km throughout Portugal and Spain.

Also see:

Hero MotoSports first Indian crew to safe Dakar podium