Hero MotoSports To Participate In India BAJA 2017

Hero MotoSports will be participating in the India BAJA 2017 with Portuguese rider Joaquim Rodrigues (JRod). It’s the debut race for Joaquim on Indian soil. Initially, India’s home-bred rider C S Santosh was supposed to represent Hero in the rally. But unfortunately, he recently injured his spine while competing in the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. Hence, Hero has decided to rest C S Santosh and give him more recovery time. C S Santosh is the only Indian who has successfully completed two Dakar rallies yet; Dakar is the toughest rally championship in the world.

The India BAJA rally raid will be held from April 7-9 in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The India BAJA rally is a part of the Dakar rally challenge held in Argentina. The winner of India BAJA will get free entry into the Merzouga Rally in Morocco in the month of May and also an opportunity to participate in the Dakar 2018.  

C S Santosh, rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, talking on his injury, said, “I am still recovering from the injury that I picked up from a crash during the Desert Storm. I am healing well and working towards getting fit for the Merzouga Rally in May. It is really disappointing to sit this one out, but I am confident that with JRod leading Hero MotoSports Team Rally, we will achieve a good result here!”

Joaquim Rodrigues, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “I am really excited to start the new season and working with the Hero MotoSports Team Rally to get ready for the India BAJA and the Merzouga Rally. It is really cool to start working again with the team and kick off our season leading up to the Dakar 2018.”