Hero MotoSports Team Rally continues to impress at the 2025 Dakar Rally, with rider Nacho Cornejo delivering another solid performance in Stage 8. The Chilean rider secured the 9th fastest time on this challenging 483 km timed section from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh. With this result, Cornejo has moved up to 7th position in the overall standings, further cementing his place among the rally’s top competitors.
Stage 8 proved demanding, with a mix of terrains that required riders to adapt to varying speeds and conditions. Despite losing some time, Cornejo maintained his momentum and continued to demonstrate growing confidence on his Hero motorcycle. As the youngest rider in the team, he’s shown significant improvement since the beginning of the rally, maintaining a strong top-10 position and keeping his focus on a strong finish for the team.
Looking ahead, Stage 9 promises to be an even more intense challenge. The stage, which will cover 357 km of timed specials across fast dirt tracks, is set to favour riders who thrive at high speeds. With an additional 232 km of liaison sections, the total distance will stretch to 589 km, demanding both speed and endurance from the competitors.
‘We are done with Stage 8, and it was an incredibly fast one! I’m feeling very confident on the bike. I lost a little bit of time, but it wasn’t a major setback. I’m looking forward to Stage 9 tomorrow, and we will keep battling it day by day. Thanks to everyone for the continued support,’ said Cornejo, expressing his confidence heading into the next stage.
Provisional Rankings – Stage 08 – Overall Classification
1. Daniel Sanders Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 44hr 26m 52s
2. Tosha Schareina Monster Energy Honda Team + 11m 03s
3. Adrien Van Beveren Monster Energy Honda Team + 21m 31s
7. Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 53m 32s
