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) in Jaipur, commemorating a decade of achievements that have elevated India’s presence in international rally racing. The milestone event brought together some of the sport’s leading names, including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, Chilean rally star Nacho Cornejo, South African rider Michael Docherty, Indian motocross and supercross talent Shlok Ghorpade, and pioneering woman biker Somyya “Moksha” Chaudhary. Senior team leaders Wolfgang Fischer, Head of MotoSports and Team Manager, and Jordi Grau, Head of National MotoSports, joined dealers, partners and members of the motorsport community for the celebrations.
Marking the occasion, Hero MotoCorp announced three major initiatives that will define the next phase of its rally-racing journey. The company confirmed a five-year extension of its partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organisers of the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. It also launched “India’s Next Dakar Hero” (INDH), a talent development programme aimed at identifying and nurturing the country’s most promising off-road racers. In addition, rising Indian rider Shlok Ghorpade was formally inducted into the Hero MotoSports Team Rally setup.
Speaking at the event, Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said the team’s decade-long journey reflects a commitment to innovation, performance and India’s growing influence in global motorsport. He noted that the renewed ASO partnership and the INDH programme would create a structured pathway for Indian riders to compete at the highest levels of rally-raid competition.
Established in 2016, Hero MotoSports Team Rally was created to test advanced technologies in some of the world’s toughest racing environments while showcasing Indian capabilities on the global stage. Over the years, the team has secured multiple podium finishes and significant victories across premier events, including the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
The newly launched INDH programme will offer aspiring riders a comprehensive two-to-three-year development pathway covering riding skills, navigation, endurance training and race preparation. The initiative builds on the team’s rider development efforts, which recently saw Indian racer Arun Thayappa make his international rally-raid debut in Spain aboard the Hero 450 Rally prototype.
As Hero MotoSports Team Rally enters its second decade, the company’s latest initiatives reinforce its commitment to strengthening India’s rally-racing ecosystem and developing future champions capable of competing among the world’s best. Hero MotoCorp has maintained its position as the world’s largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer for 24 consecutive years, with operations spanning 52 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The company also leads in electric mobility through VIDA, powered by Hero, and holds strategic collaborations with Harley-Davidson, Zero Motorcycles, Ather Energy, and Euler Motors.
Its global operations are supported by eight manufacturing facilities and two state-of-the-art R&D centers in India and Germany. Hero MotoCorp is the only Indian two-wheeler company listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and remains a strong advocate for sports worldwide through partnerships spanning golf, football, hockey, and motorsport.
