Hero MotoSports Celebrates a Decade of Global Rally Excellence

Hero MotoSports : Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, recently commemorated the 10th anniversary of its factory racing outfit, Hero MotoSports Team Rally. The milestone celebration, held at the company’s Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, marked ten years of India’s ascent as a formidable force in global rally racing.

A Decade of Defining Indian Motorsport:
Founded in 2016, Hero MotoSports was established to test the limits of Hero’s technology across the world’s most grueling terrains. Over the last decade, the team has evolved from a bold vision into a world-class rally-raid outfit, securing numerous podium finishes and landmark victories in the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Strategic Initiatives for the Next Decade:
To mark the team’s evolution into its second decade, Hero MotoCorp announced three major strategic pillars to ensure long-term success and growth:

Extended Global Partnership: Hero MotoCorp has renewed its partnership with the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the organizers of the Dakar Rally, for another five years. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to advancing the sport and fostering global rally talent.

India’s Next Dakar Hero (INDH) Program: In a landmark move, the company launched the “India’s Next Dakar Hero” program. This structured initiative aims to identify and train young Indian off-road talent, guiding them from national-level racing to the international rally-raid stage through a comprehensive two-to-three-year development process.

Talent Induction: The team formally welcomed 18-year-old racing sensation Shlok Ghorpade to its ranks. A dominant force in the National India Supercross circuit, Shlok has begun training alongside world-class riders like Ross Branch, preparing for an intensive development pathway that includes simulations in Morocco.

A Vision for Homegrown Champions:
Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, reflected on the journey, stating, “Over the past decade, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has evolved from a bold ambition into a globally respected rally racing team. The India’s Next Dakar Hero program reflects our deep belief that India possesses immense untapped motorsport talent waiting to be nurtured.”

The celebration in Jaipur featured an exclusive showcase of the team’s legendary Dakar machines, alongside off-road performances by international stars including Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo, and Michael Docherty. By combining elite engineering with a sustainable pipeline for new riders, Hero MotoSports is setting the stage for India to cement its legacy as a permanent fixture at the pinnacle of global rally-raid racing.