Despite relishing the experience and basking in his moment of triumph, the local motorcycle sensation, Ross Branch harbors ambitions to win other world-class competitions, including the FIM Rally Raid series staged across numerous countries worldwide. Having come tantalizingly close to tasting victory as a Dakar Champion, missing it by a few seconds, Branch is poised to be a strong contender for victory in 2025.
Ross Branch soared into motorsport prominence with a legendary 2nd-place finish at the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. This remarkable achievement stands out as one of the most brilliant underdog success stories of the year. Throughout the grueling 10,000 km odyssey in some of the most unforgiving desert terrain on the planet, Branch showcased experience, grit, talent, compassion, and humility.
Having joined Hero MotoSport after parting ways with Yamaha Rally team two years ago, Branch faced challenging races in previous editions marked by falls, bad luck, and non-finishes. However, the stars aligned this year as the Jwaneng Mining town native nearly clinched victory, ultimately securing the second position behind Ricky Berbec of America. Notably, during one stage of the campaign, Branch stopped to assist a rival who had endured a nasty fall but still managed to win the stage, a testament to his endurance and willpower. Branch went on to win three stages at the event and stayed consistent with top 10 finishes in the 12 stages of the race.
Not only did Branch put the blue, black, and white on the map, but he also catapulted India into the sporting world realm, as Hero MotoCorp, an Indian company, had never before finished on the Dakar Podium. A press release from Hero MotoSports Team Rally extends congratulations to Ross and the entire team, emphasizing that success is the result of dedication, consistency, and unwavering passion.
The statement highlights the historic moment for Hero MotoCorp, becoming the first-ever Indian manufacturer team to finish on the podium of the legendary Dakar Rally. Ross Branch's consistent performance over the 12 stages secured a remarkable second place for the team, showcasing the dedication and effort put into their racing program over the years.
The Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, expressed pride in this phenomenal achievement, citing the team's growth curve, marked by multiple podiums, wins, and stage wins at top rally-raids worldwide since its formation in 2016.
Despite the extreme challenges faced during this edition of the Rally, with three of the four Hero riders dropping out due to injuries or mechanical failure, the pressure on Ross Branch to continue and maintain a top-order position was immense. The Botswanan Hero, however, conquered every mile with a broad smile, making the seemingly tough task appear easy.
Following his stunning second-place finish, Branch expressed his elation, saying, “Finally finished the Dakar! It was a really tough Dakar 2024, and I'm so thrilled to be here! Finishing on the podium was always the goal, and today it's a dream come true. I'm really over the moon to achieve this goal for Hero. And a big thank you to the team for developing a highly competitive machine, for the sleepless 3 weeks here, and for everything they've sacrificed to reach this point.”
Ross Branch soared into motorsport prominence with a legendary 2nd-place finish at the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. This remarkable achievement stands out as one of the most brilliant underdog success stories of the year. Throughout the grueling 10,000 km odyssey in some of the most unforgiving desert terrain on the planet, Branch showcased experience, grit, talent, compassion, and humility.
Having joined Hero MotoSport after parting ways with Yamaha Rally team two years ago, Branch faced challenging races in previous editions marked by falls, bad luck, and non-finishes. However, the stars aligned this year as the Jwaneng Mining town native nearly clinched victory, ultimately securing the second position behind Ricky Berbec of America. Notably, during one stage of the campaign, Branch stopped to assist a rival who had endured a nasty fall but still managed to win the stage, a testament to his endurance and willpower. Branch went on to win three stages at the event and stayed consistent with top 10 finishes in the 12 stages of the race.
Not only did Branch put the blue, black, and white on the map, but he also catapulted India into the sporting world realm, as Hero MotoCorp, an Indian company, had never before finished on the Dakar Podium. A press release from Hero MotoSports Team Rally extends congratulations to Ross and the entire team, emphasizing that success is the result of dedication, consistency, and unwavering passion.
The statement highlights the historic moment for Hero MotoCorp, becoming the first-ever Indian manufacturer team to finish on the podium of the legendary Dakar Rally. Ross Branch's consistent performance over the 12 stages secured a remarkable second place for the team, showcasing the dedication and effort put into their racing program over the years.
The Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, expressed pride in this phenomenal achievement, citing the team's growth curve, marked by multiple podiums, wins, and stage wins at top rally-raids worldwide since its formation in 2016.
Despite the extreme challenges faced during this edition of the Rally, with three of the four Hero riders dropping out due to injuries or mechanical failure, the pressure on Ross Branch to continue and maintain a top-order position was immense. The Botswanan Hero, however, conquered every mile with a broad smile, making the seemingly tough task appear easy.
Following his stunning second-place finish, Branch expressed his elation, saying, “Finally finished the Dakar! It was a really tough Dakar 2024, and I'm so thrilled to be here! Finishing on the podium was always the goal, and today it's a dream come true. I'm really over the moon to achieve this goal for Hero. And a big thank you to the team for developing a highly competitive machine, for the sleepless 3 weeks here, and for everything they've sacrificed to reach this point.”
