Hero MotoSports Team Rally Starts 2026 Rally Raid Portugal with Strong Prologue Performance
Hero MotoSports Team Rally completed the Prologue stage of the 2026 Rally Raid Portugal with Ross Branch finishing 10th and Nacho Cornejo 21st, setting up a competitive start.
03m 01s
10th (+00m 08s)
21st (+00m 20s)
What Happened
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport arm of Hero MotoCorp, has officially begun its campaign at the 2026 Rally Raid Portugal. The team successfully completed the short 3 km Prologue stage, building early momentum for the week ahead. Fielding Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo in the elite RallyGP category, Branch finished with the 10th fastest time, while Cornejo secured 21st place. Branch's top-10 finish gives him the advantage of selecting his starting position for Stage 1.
The 2026 edition of the Rally Raid Portugal spans a total distance of 2,201 km, including 1,269 km of timed special stages and 932 km of liaison sections. The route has been redesigned, introducing a new stretch reaching the Atlantic coast. The opening special stage features more sand, adding a Dakar-like challenge. Over five days, competitors will cross into Spain and return, with a final loop stage in the Algarve.
“After a solid week of preparations here in Portugal, we’re pleased to be at the second round of the 2026 World Championship. It’s great to have Ross back at full strength after his Dakar setback, and the team is feeling positive heading into this round.”
“The prologue was short but really enjoyable—just 3 km, but a great way to get started. I made a small mistake early on, but overall I had a lot of fun on the bike.”
Why this matters
The rally marks the second round of the 2026 World Championship and showcases Hero MotoCorp's continued involvement in international motorsports.
Terms in This Story
- Prologue
- A short opening stage that determines starting order for subsequent stages.
- RallyGP
- The top category in rally raid racing for elite riders.
- W2RC
- World Rally-Raid Championship, the global series for rally raid events.
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