Team Extends ASO Partnership for 5 Years and Launches ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ Program
BENGALURU | JUNE 23, 2026 – Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, celebrated the milestone 10th anniversary of the Hero MotoSports Team Rally at its Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. The event marked a decade of India’s meteoric rise on the global rally racing stage and signaled the start of a bold new chapter with three major strategic announcements.
To chart its course for the next decade, Hero MotoCorp has renewed its partnership with the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), launched the pioneering ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ (INDH) program, and officially signed rising 18-year-old off-road racing sensation Shlok Ghorpade.
A Star-Studded Celebration of a Legendary Decade
The 10-year celebration brought together an elite lineup of international and domestic racing talent, including:
- Ross Branch: 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion (W2RC)
- Nacho Cornejo: Renowned South American rally racer
- Michael Docherty: South African rally-raid and motocross rider
- Shlok Ghorpade: India’s premier young motocross and supercross racer
- Somyya “Moksha” Chaudhary: India’s pioneering professional women’s biker
Key team architects also helmed the event, including Head of MotoSports and Team Manager Wolfgang (Waffi) Fischer, and Spanish rally expert and Head of National MotoSports Jordi Grau, alongside dealers, partners, and motorsport enthusiasts.
Hosted at Hero’s state-of-the-art R&D facility in Jaipur, guests were treated to an exclusive showcase of the team’s Dakar machines and a thrilling live off-road performance by the star riders, demonstrating the ultimate skill and endurance required for the world’s toughest terrains.
Strategic Initiatives for the Next Decade
Speaking at the event, Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, stated:
“Over the past decade, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has evolved from a bold ambition into a globally respected 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 motorsport talent. By welcoming Shlok Ghorpade, we aim to build a sustainable pathway for homegrown riders to excel at the highest levels.”
Securing the Global Future: 5-Year ASO Extension
Hero MotoCorp has solidified its future in top-tier rally-raid by extending its partnership with ASO—the organizers of the iconic Dakar Rally and the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship—for another five years. This extended collaboration ensures long-term stability and creates greater opportunities for emerging talent worldwide.
Nurturing Homegrown Talent: ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ (INDH)
Dr. Pawan Munjal announced the launch of the INDH program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to discover, train, and champion the next generation of Indian rally-raid talent.
Participants will undergo a rigorous two-to-three-year development program focusing on critical skills such as riding technique, advanced navigation, physical conditioning, and endurance. This initiative builds on Hero’s established talent ecosystem, which saw a major milestone in September 2025 when national racing ace Arun Thayappa made a historic international debut at the Cierzo Rally in Spain riding the Hero 450 Rally prototype.
Signing of Phenom Shlok Ghorpade
In a definitive move for its long-term talent strategy, Hero MotoSports officially inducted 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade from Satara, Maharashtra. Shlok has completely dominated the domestic circuit, sweeping every major title in the National India Supercross circuit and finishing as the fastest national racer in the India Supercross League.
Shlok has already commenced training alongside World Champion Ross Branch and is scheduled to undergo an intensive race simulation program in Morocco as part of his dedicated pathway to the Dakar Rally.
A Lasting Legacy
Founded in 2016 to test cutting-edge technology on the world’s harshest terrains, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has secured multiple podium finishes and landmark victories over the last ten years. As it enters its second decade, these new initiatives reinforce Hero MotoCorp’s unwavering commitment to elevating Indian motorsport and building future world champions.
