Hero MotoSports Team Rally has delivered a strong performance at the Dakar Rally 2025, completing the second stage that featured the notoriously difficult 48H Chrono. This challenging stage, spread over 1006 km across two days, tested both rider endurance and mechanical reliability.
Ross Branch put up a stellar performance, finishing Stage 2 with the 5th fastest time. His teammate, Nacho Cornejo, demonstrated exceptional resilience and secured 12th place. As a result, Ross maintains his position in the top three, currently holding 3rd place in the overall rankings, just 4 seconds behind the second-place rider. Nacho, too, has shown consistent strength, sitting in 9th place overall.
The Hero 450 Rally continues to prove its robustness and reliability in the world’s toughest rally. The bike has been a key factor in the team’s success over the years, and its resilience was evident once again during the gruelling 48H Chrono stage. Both riders completed the stage without significant issues, reinforcing Hero’s engineering prowess and the team’s thorough preparation.
Stage 2 was unique due to the ‘Break Point’ system, where competitors were required to stop at designated zones to camp and rest overnight. After covering 609 km on Day 1, both Ross and Nacho resumed the race the following morning, finishing the remaining 338 km of the stage. This format added another layer of challenge, with minimal supplies and long hours on the bike.
Looking ahead, the rally continues with Stage 3, moving north to Al Henakiah with 496 km of timed specials. The stage will feature technical sections and high-speed stretches, offering both opportunities and risks for the competitors. Hero’s riders remain in strong contention, with plenty of race left to navigate.
