Hero MotoSports Team Rally Marks 10 Years, Extends ASO Deal and Launches India’s Next Dakar Hero Program
Hero MotoCorp’s rally team celebrated its decade milestone, renewing its partnership with Dakar Rally organizer ASO for five years and launching a program to develop Indian off-road talent.
10
5 years
18 years old
What Happened
Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer, celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hero MotoSports Team Rally at its Centre for Innovation and Technology in Jaipur. The event brought together top rally stars including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo, Michael Docherty, and India’s Shlok Ghorpade, alongside pioneering women biker Somyya Chaudhary. Team architects Wolfgang Fischer and Jordi Grau, along with dealers and partners, also attended the milestone event.
- Renewed partnership with Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) for five years, securing long-term collaboration for the Dakar Rally and FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.
- Launched 'India’s Next Dakar Hero' (INDH) program to identify, train, and nurture young Indian off-road talent through a two-to-three-year development program.
- Signed 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade from Satara, Maharashtra, into the team, with his training already underway alongside champion Ross Branch.
“Over the past decade, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has evolved from a bold ambition into a globally respected rally racing team, proudly representing India on the world stage. The renewal of our partnership with ASO strengthens our long-term commitment to global rally racing. Furthermore, the India’s Next Dakar Hero program reflects our deep belief that India possesses immense untapped motosports ta”
Hero MotoSports Team Rally was founded by Hero MotoCorp to test technology and elevate India's presence in international rally racing.
National racing ace Arun Thayappa made his international rally-raid debut at the Cierzo Rally in Spain aboard the Hero 450 Rally prototype.
Hero MotoSports celebrated its 10th anniversary, renewed ASO partnership, launched INDH program, and signed Shlok Ghorpade.
The India’s Next Dakar Hero program builds on Hero MotoSports’ decade of rally-raid expertise and existing rider development ecosystem. Participants will undergo rigorous training in riding technique, navigation, physical conditioning, and endurance over two to three years, aiming to progress from national racing to the international rally-raid stage. The program's first milestone was achieved in September 2025 when Arun Thayappa debuted at the Cierzo Rally.
Shlok Ghorpade, 18, from Satara, Maharashtra, has dominated the National India Supercross circuit, winning every major title and finishing as the fastest national racer in the India Supercross League. He has already begun training with the core Hero MotoSports team and is scheduled to participate in an intensive race simulation program in Morocco as part of a dedicated pathway to the Dakar Rally.
Why this matters
The initiatives signal Hero MotoCorp’s long-term commitment to growing Indian motorsport globally. The five-year ASO partnership ensures continued participation in the Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship, while the India’s Next Dakar Hero program aims to discover and nurture homegrown riders, potentially elevating India’s presence in international rally racing.
Terms in This Story
- Dakar Rally
- An annual off-road endurance race considered one of the toughest motorsport events in the world.
- FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC)
- The global championship series for rally-raid racing, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme.
- Rally-raid
- A form of off-road motorsport that involves long-distance navigation and endurance across challenging terrain.
- India’s Next Dakar Hero (INDH)
- A development program by Hero MotoSports to identify and train young Indian riders for international rally-raid competition.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.