Hero Motosport Team Rally is a motorsport effort organized by Hero Motocorp, the world’s largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer. The team rider Ross Branch competes in the FIM World Rally Raid Championship. Recently finishing 7th overall in a Hero 450 Rally car at the 2,300-kilometer Sonora Rally in Mexico, Branch is poised to compete in the 2023 World Raid Raid Championship.
In an interview, Branch talks about the event at Sonora Rally. Starting in Hermosillo, the team raced all the way to the US border, which was incredible. The rally-raid has only five rounds of the World Championship, one of which is the famous Dakar Rally. This was round 3, and it was a big one. Branch and his team finished in the top 5 and top 10 every day, but one small mistake in navigation set them back to 7th. Branch explains that everyone is into rally raid racing now, and all of them are super strong at the moment.
The FIM World Rally Raid Championship is a hotly contested arena between all the competing manufacturers like Honda, KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, and Hero, and all the competing world-class riders. This championship is also a battlefield for the famous Dakar Rally. Branch explains that all manufacturers are doing their best to win. Currently, other new manufacturers are entering the championship.
Hero Motocorp has recently entered the off-road racing scene and is doing very well. They are growing day by day and pouring everything they have and resources into rally racing. Branch is fortunate enough to be a part of the Hero Motosports Rally Team. He says it is an incredible experience to represent the brand around the world. India is fully committed to rally racing, and there is a national team of five riders.
Branch was lucky to partner with Hero MotoSports. He signed with the team in 2021, when Yamaha decided to take a break from rally raid for a while. Although Branch didn’t know about the brand before, he is now a part of the family. The team also has Joaquin Rodriguez as Branch’s teammate, who is a legend in Supercross and motocross.
In conclusion, Hero MotoSports is taking a big step in the right direction, with a new brand and new team. They have a bright future, and Branch is fortunate to contribute to help them develop their bike and win.