Hero MotoSports Signs Rally2 Record Holder Michael Docherty to Factory Rider Line-Up
South African Rally2 record holder Michael Docherty joins Hero MotoSports, debuting at the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40.
37
3rd (2025)
What Happened
Hero MotoSports Team Rally has signed South African rider Michael Docherty to its factory line-up. Docherty, a Rally2 record holder with 37 stage wins, will debut at the Desafío Ruta 40 in 2026. The team aims for a strong 2027 Dakar Rally campaign.
Transitioned to rally-raid and won the Rally2 category at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in his debut.
Began competing in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
Finished third in the Rally2 World Cup with a record 37 stage wins.
Joined Hero MotoSports as a factory rider; will make debut at Desafío Ruta 40.
“We are very excited to welcome Michael Docherty to become our next strong addition to Hero MotoSports Team Rally.”
Why this matters
This signing strengthens Hero MotoSports' global talent pool and reinforces its commitment to competing at the highest level of rally-raid, with a focus on the 2027 Dakar Rally.
Terms in This Story
- Rally2
- A category in rally-raid for production-based motorcycles with limited modifications.
- W2RC
- World Rally-Raid Championship, the premier global rally-raid series.
- Desafío Ruta 40
- A rally-raid event in Argentina that is part of the W2RC calendar.
- Dakar Rally
- The most famous and challenging rally-raid event, held annually.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.