Hero MotoSports Fights Back Strong in Rally Raid Portugal Stage 3

Sandeep S Rathod

3 months ago

Hero MotoSports Team Rally delivered a solid performance in Stage 3 of the Ultimate BP Rally Raid Portugal, the fourth round of the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

After mechanical troubles in the previous stage, Tobias Ebster bounced back strongly, posting the 8th fastest time in the special before a speeding penalty placed him 10th overall and 4th in the Rally2 class. The Austrian rider fought through heavy dust, overtook multiple competitors, and recovered quickly after losing time in a rut, finishing less than two minutes behind the Rally2 class leader. Despite an earlier time penalty ruling him out of overall contention, Ebster remains focused on ending the rally on a high.

Teammate Nacho Cornejo endured a challenging day, overshooting a corner and getting stuck in a ditch before fellow competitor Alfredo Pellicer helped him rejoin. Cornejo still managed to complete the stage in 18th place and sits 12th overall in the standings, with two stages remaining.

Stage 3 covered 511 km around Badajoz, featuring a 308 km timed section of fast gravel and dirt tracks, olive groves, and technical crossings that tested precision as much as speed. Looking ahead, Stage 4 will take riders across the border into Portugal with a 528 km route from Badajoz to Lisbon, including 274 km of special stage.