Hero MotoSports Team Rally Brings Back Exemplary Dakar Debut Results!

You know what's better than an Indian manufacturer competing in Dakar? An Indian manufacturer finishing Dakar with both its riders and their bikes in one piece with historic results! In this particular case, it's Hero MotoCorp. The Delhi-based motorcycle manufacturer rode the Dakar wave with its new found venture: Hero MotorSports Team Rally, which is a group of passionate people whose day job is developing and racing top-class racing machines. Besides, the skills and efforts of Joaquim Rodrigues and CS Santosh paid off throughout the 9000km of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina with a commendable 10th and 47th finish, respectively. 

Imagine setting up a movie studio and then pulling off one of the biggest box-office hits of the year under a year's time. ‘Quite an aspirational goal’, would be the thought of many. However, Hero MotoSports Team Rally did just that. The company joined hands with German off-road motorcycle specialist Speedbrain GmbH in April 2016, which was 10 months ago, and the results are before us. The team was also the newest team in Dakar paddocks.

Debut rider of the team, J-Rod, performed exceptionally well all the while showcasing his fortitude for an endurance rally like Dakar. In the 12th stage (64km), the Portuguese rider roped in the 15th (10th overall) position with 33 minutes, 57 seconds. Expressing his joy, Rod said, “Yes, the 2017 Dakar is done, and I am very happy. It was my first rally, so that makes it even more special. And to reach Buenos Aires being in the top 10 is indeed a great feeling. It was something I never thought of in the beginning. I am very thankful to Hero MotoSports Team Rally that they taught me about this format of off-road racing. What’s equally important is that both the bikes finished the rally. It shows how good and reliable they are.”

Santosh, who is competing in his third Dakar, finished 45th in the last stage and was the only Indian rider to finish the Dakar in 2017. “It’s always a pleasure to reach the finish podium in the Dakar. It’s an incredible feeling. I am satisfied with my performance, though I would have loved to finish much higher up in the rankings. But this is the Dakar. There were some good days and some not so good days. I have learnt a lot working with this team and they delivered a very strong and a fast bike. I think we have some interesting days ahead of us. I once again thank the team for lending its full support,” said the Bengaluru-based rider.

The joy is apparent from the words of both the team pilots and Hero’s high-command also approved the team’s efforts. Pawan Munjal, CEO Hero MotoCorp, congratulated the team, “This was the debut season of Hero MotoSports Team Rally at Dakar 2017. We had full faith in our riders C.S. Santosh and Joaquim Rodrigues and they demonstrated excellent skill, endurance and temperament with their superlative performance. This is indeed a significant milestone in the global journey of Brand Hero.”

Markus Braunsperger, CTO, Hero MotoCorp, stated, “Frankly knowing the team, their team spirit and knowing how professional they are, I believed that they would make it across the finish line. What this team has achieved is much more than what I had expected. It was a huge team effort with great understanding, a good bike and good bunch of professionals working together with the freedom to operate. I am really proud of all of them. For us at Hero MotoCorp a new experience has started and awareness about Brand Hero has increased exponentially on a global level.”

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Last, but not the least, Wolfgang Fischer, MD, Speedbrian GmbH said, “Mission accomplished with 100 percent arrival at the finish. It’s something that everyone could just wish for a brand-new project, a new team and new partner like Hero MotoCorp, which is biggest motorcycle producer in the world. It’s a dream come true for us and in the partnership between Speedbrain and Hero MotoCorp. We also had the pleasure to have Joaquim Rodrigues, a rookie who showed the world what he is capable of by finishing in the top 10, and CS Santosh, the fastest Indian pilot in our team, finishing in a decent position in the top 50. I am very happy with the result, but I am even more happy that we have a strong team. It’s the beginning a great new adventure. It was indeed a special occasion to have Mr Pawan Munjal, CMD of Hero MotoCorp at the arrival podium that coincided with the market launch of Hero in the Argentinian market. It couldn’t be better.”

The team now looks forward to more Dakar rallies in the approaching years, but with a clearer picture in mind as a team. Certainly, the aim for next year will be higher and so will the preparations.