Hero MotoCorp Ltd (HMCL), the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, today forayed into the world of motorcycle rally racing by forming a strategic partnership with Speedbrain GmbH, the German off-road racing specialist. The newly formed ‘Hero MotoSports Team Rally’ will make its debut at the Merzouga Rally in Morocco later this month, a Dakar series race.
The team will be riding on the upgraded version of the successful Speedbrain 450 rally bike. The Merzouga Rally will be held from May 21 to 27 2016. The Hero MotoSports Team Rally will also participate in international rallies across the globe, leading up to the Dakar rally 2017.
Flying the new colours will be the riders CS Santosh and Joaquim Rodrigues. CS Santosh is one of India´s top motorsport athletes. The two-time Dakar participant – and first ever Indian – has won pretty much everything aboard a dirtbike in India for nine straight years. Santosh took victory in the Raid-de-Himalaya (2012) and the Maruti Desert Storm (2014) in his maiden attempt. He finished the Dakar 2015 in 36th position as a rookie.
Santosh, the off-road motorcycle star from India, has participated in several international rally events and is poised to make a mark in the global racing arena. His teammate ‘J-Rod’ from Portugal is a rookie in rally sport. However, being a former Motocross and Supercross factory pilot, he is extremely professional with strong determination to prove his talent. The team will be headed by Mr. Wolfgang Fischer, Managing Director, Speedbrain.
The Hero MotoSports Team Rally will be under the direct supervision of Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Hero MotoCorp, and will work in close collaboration with his team at the Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology. The Hero MotoSports Team Rally will also assist in development and testing of new Hero vehicles concepts, using the data collected from the races.
Mr. Wolfgang Fischer, Managing Director, Speedbrain GmbH, said, “After several successful years in the rally raid sport, collecting tons of experience and creating a very specialised, motivated and loyal race team and the conceptual skills on how to build an efficient and competitive bike, we are more than happy to form a new, strategic partnership with Hero MotoCorp, to realise our common vision for the future.”
