New Delhi: Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, has successfully completed the second stage at the Dakar Rally 2025 that featured the notoriously challenging 48H Chrono this year at the world’s toughest rally.
The Botswanan hero Ross Branch delivered an impressive performance, finishing the stage with the 5th fastest time. His teammate, Nacho Cornejo also demonstrated remarkable resilience, securing the 12th place.
With this result, Ross maintains his 3rd position in the overall rankings, a mere 4 seconds behind the second-place holder. Nacho has also been showcasing a strong performance since the start of the race, and now holds an impressive 9th overall position in the rally.
The Hero 450 Rally has been showing remarkable resilience and performance in the Dakar Rally for years now. Completing the 48H Chrono stage yet again without any major issues is a testament to the bike’s reliability and the team’s outstanding engineering.
Stage 2 was a unique stage, spanning 1006 km over two days. Competitors were required to halt at the nearest of the six designated Break Point zones at 5 pm on Day 1, where they received minimal camping gear and rations to survive the night. By the end of Day 1, both Hero riders had covered 609 km reaching BP E – the second last break point. Starting early today, the competitors continued on the remaining 338 km distance of the special to reach the finish line. To complete the second half of the challenging stage, riders set off on Monday morning in the same order they arrived at their respective rest points.
With tomorrow’s Stage 3, the rally now moves northwards to Al Henakiah, featuring 496 km of timed specials. The stage begins with technical sections, followed by fast stretches that demand high-speed skills. While these fast stages offer opportunities for gains, they also pose significant risks, and a single mistake can prove costly for the competitors.
Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said:
“Yesterday was a massive push – we spent 9 hours on the bike in full-gas motocross style from start to finish! The ride with the pack at km 250 was exhilarating, and although I couldn’t break away, it was an absolute blast. Camping in the desert was an unforgettable experience, and catching up with fellow riders and drivers was a bonus. I’m just relieved to be back in one piece, with my bike in perfect condition and ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenge!”
Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said:
“We are done with the 48-hour stage. It was a tough and long one with a lot of dust. The bike is performing really well, with just a few minor issues yesterday and today. But overall, it was smooth. This is just the beginning and we still have a lot of race left. Looking forward to the next stage!”
