Hero MotoSports has made an exciting addition to its lineup for the upcoming 2024 Dakar Rally in January by signing Spanish rider Joan Barreda Bort. The complete roster for the Indian Dakar team has also been unveiled, following Hero's recent collaboration with Monster Energy, which has elevated the team's profile and expanded its capabilities.
Joan Barreda Bort, a Monster Energy-sponsored rider, brings a wealth of experience to Hero MotoSports. Having previously raced with the Monster Energy Honda Rally Team, Barreda made a transition in 2023 to compete as a privateer while still riding a Honda CRF450 and maintaining support from the factory team. Notably, Barreda, representing the Monster Energy JB Team, secured a significant victory in the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally before his campaign was cut short due to injury. Despite the setback, he had climbed to seventh place in the overall standings after only four legs. And, interestingly, it was on that stage when Hero and Barreda's new colleague, Ross Branch, celebrated a victory together.
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Dakar: Monster Energy and Hero MotoSports Join Forces
Monster Energy and Hero MotoSports officially announced their partnership for the 2024 Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship. With this new initiative, Monster Energy will have two teams competing in the very competitive RallyGP bike category – the first being the established Monster Energy Honda Rally Team.
Hero MotoSports, the only Indian factory team in RallyGP, fielded Ross Branch and Sebastian Bühler on two motorcycles in the 2023 season. Branch finished fourth in the Desafo Ruta 40 (tied for third among W2RC competitors) and the Rallye du Maroc, both of which helped him achieve fourth place in the overall points standings. His extraordinary performance includes not one but two stage wins at the Dakar Rally – his first since 2020. His third stage victory came in Morocco, where he also spent most of the race in the overall lead. However, Sebastian Bühler had a difficult season plagued by technical troubles, which forced him to retire twice, finally placing him ninth in the overall standings.
By sponsoring Hero MotoSports, Monster Energy is now on a par with rival Red Bull, which backs the KTM and GasGas factory teams in RallyGP. The partnership will increase Monster Energy's prominence in the off-road racing and rallying communities.
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Dakar 2024: About Hero MotoSports
Hero MotoSports, despite being relatively new to the elite levels of rally raid, showcased its prowess in the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship, particularly with rider Ross Branch. Branch's outstanding performance, including three stage wins, two of which were at the iconic Dakar Rally, secured him an impressive fourth-place finish in the championship standings. Both Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler are set to continue with the team for another season. However, despite his commendable 10th-place finish in the 2023 Dakar Rally for Hero MotoSports, Franco Caimi has left the team.
In the recent 2023 Rallye Du Maroc, Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler demonstrated exceptional talent by finishing in the top ten.
The team has made an exciting addition with Joan Barreda joining Hero MotoSports for the Dakar Rally. Barreda, a seasoned rider with an impressive Dakar career that began in 2011 with Aprilia, has competed in two rallies with Husqvarna, winning five stages during his time with the latter, four of which came in 2013. Notably, the current manager of Hero MotoSports, Wolfgang Fischer, previously led the Husqvarna team.
As the action kicks off on January 5, 2024, Joan Barreda will embark on his fourteenth Dakar Rally, adding a new chapter to his illustrious off-road racing career with the support of Hero MotoSports.
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