Hero MotoSports Signs South African Rally-Raid Star Michael Docherty
Hero MotoSports Team Rally has added South African rally-raid rider Michael Docherty to its international line-up, marking his debut as a factory rider.
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What Happened
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport arm of Hero MotoCorp, has announced the addition of South African rally-raid star Michael Docherty to its international rider line-up. Docherty will make his debut in Hero colours at the Desafío Ruta 40, the third round of the 2026 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
Docherty, 31, holds the record for the most stage wins in the Rally2 category with 37 victories. He began his career in motocross and transitioned to rally-raid in 2021, winning the Rally2 category at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in his debut. He finished third in the 2025 Rally2 World Cup.
“We are very excited to welcome Michael Docherty to become our next strong addition to Hero MotoSports Team Rally. His Rally career records speak for themselves, he always showed great speed, working ethic and dedication in his Rally2 career and we believe strongly we can build the next step together to become a top Rally GP contender.”
“Joining Hero MotoSports marks a significant step in my career. Becoming a factory rider has been a long-term goal of mine and I’m proud to achieve it with a team that has already demonstrated its strength at the highest level.”
Hero MotoSports Team Rally has strategically expanded into the Rally2 category, building on its 2024 World Championship victory with Ross Branch. The team debuted in Rally2 at the 2024 Desafío Ruta 40 and later secured its first Rally2 stage victory at the 2025 South African Safari Rally through Tobias Ebster, who finished runner-up in the 2025 FIM Rally2 World Cup.
Why this matters
The signing strengthens Hero's rally team as it builds toward a strong campaign at the 2027 Dakar Rally, following its 2024 World Championship victory.
Terms in This Story
- Rally2
- A category in rally-raid for motorcycles with limited engine modifications, serving as a stepping stone to the top RallyGP class.
- W2RC
- FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, the global championship for rally-raid events.
- Dakar Rally
- The world's most famous and challenging rally-raid event, held annually in Saudi Arabia.
- Factory rider
- A rider who is employed directly by a motorcycle manufacturer's racing team, with full factory support.
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