Hero MotoCorp has celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hero MotoSports Team Rally at its Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, marking a decade of India’s growing presence in international rally-raid racing. The milestone event also served as the launchpad for three major initiatives that underline the company’s long-term commitment to global motorsport and rider development.
The celebrations brought together Hero MotoSports’ international factory riders, including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo, Michael Docherty, Indian motocross and supercross rider Shlok Ghorpade, and pioneering Indian woman rider Somyya “Moksha” Chaudhary. The event was also attended by Hero MotoSports Team Manager Wolfgang “Waffi” Fischer, Head of National Motorsports Jordi Grau, along with dealers, partners and members of the motorsport fraternity.
Three Key Announcements
As Hero MotoSports enters its second decade, Hero MotoCorp announced three strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening its rally-raid programme.
The company has extended its partnership with Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), organisers of the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, for another five years. The renewed collaboration reinforces Hero MotoSports’ long-term commitment to competing at the highest level while supporting the continued growth of rally-raid racing globally.
Hero MotoCorp also unveiled the India’s Next Dakar Hero (INDH) programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to identify, train and develop India’s next generation of rally-raid riders. The programme will provide selected riders with a structured two-to-three-year development pathway covering advanced riding skills, navigation, endurance training and physical conditioning, preparing them for international rally competition.
Completing the announcements, Hero MotoSports officially inducted 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade into its factory rally team. The Satara-based rider has dominated the Indian Supercross circuit, winning every major national title and emerging as one of India’s most promising off-road racers. He has already begun training alongside reigning World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch and the Hero MotoSports factory team and is scheduled to participate in an intensive race simulation programme in Morocco as part of his Dakar Rally preparation.
A Decade of Rally Success
Hosted at Hero MotoCorp’s state-of-the-art R&D facility in Jaipur, the anniversary celebrations also featured an exclusive display of the team’s Dakar Rally machines and a live off-road demonstration by its riders, showcasing the performance, endurance and engineering behind Hero MotoSports’ global success.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, said the team has evolved from an ambitious vision into one of the world’s leading rally-raid teams while proudly representing India on the international stage. He added that the renewed ASO partnership, the launch of the INDH programme and the addition of Shlok Ghorpade mark the beginning of the team’s next chapter, focused on creating a sustainable pathway for Indian riders to compete at the highest level of rally racing.
Building India’s Rally Future
Founded in 2016, Hero MotoSports Team Rally was established to showcase Hero MotoCorp’s engineering capabilities in some of the world’s toughest racing environments while elevating India’s presence in international motorsport. Over the past decade, the team has secured multiple podium finishes and landmark victories in prestigious events, including the Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
Hero MotoCorp also highlighted the success of its rider development ecosystem, noting that Indian racer Arun Thayappa made his international rally-raid debut at Spain’s Cierzo Rally in September 2025 aboard the Hero 450 Rally prototype, marking another important milestone for Indian motorsport.
With a renewed global partnership, a dedicated talent development programme and the induction of one of India’s brightest young off-road racers, Hero MotoSports is laying the foundation for its next decade while strengthening India’s ambitions on the world rally stage.
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