All three Hero MotoSports riders completed the 2025 South African Rally, with the Indian team securing another top-10 finish.
Jose ‘Nacho’ Cornejo was the team’s top finisher, with a P6 result. Tobias Ebster impressed in his debut outing for the team, finishing P9 overall and second in the Rally 2 category. Reigning World Rally-Raid champion Ross Branch recovered from an earlier setback to finish P11.
- Cornejo finishes P6, Branch P11
- Ebster leads Rally 2 standings
Cornejo scores another top 10 result for Hero
Branch recovers to P11
Cornejo continued his consistent run in the championship and finished in the top 10 in all five stages of the South African Rally. “We had our ups and downs but also a couple of really strong stages. I was able to perform well in conditions that have typically been a weakness for me, so that’s a big positive,” he said.
“Yes, I lost some time here and there, but overall, I believe we’re moving in the right direction and making clear improvements in these kinds of terrains.”
It’s been a difficult season so far for Branch, who suffered retirements at the Dakar Rally and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He made a strong start in South Africa with a Stage 1 win. However, he hit another setback in Stage 2 after colliding with a bird around the 14km mark.
The incident damaged his bike’s oil cooler, and he had to carry out makeshift repairs to keep the bike running. Branch pushed through and completed the stage but lost considerable time and dropped to P13 overall. Nevertheless, he bounced back in Stage 3, setting the third-fastest time and recovered to finish the rally P11.
It may not have been the result he had hoped for, but Branch is looking at the positives. “We’re back on pace now; the speed is there, and I’m really happy with how everything is coming together,” he said.
Ebster second in Rally 2 class
Secures Hero’s first Rally 2 stage win
Ebster’s debut with Hero MotoSports was strong, with four podium finishes, including a stage win in the Rally 2 category. He ended up P9 overall and second in Rally 2, handing him enough points to hold on to the championship lead in the category.
“It was just 111 km today [for the final stage], and I had a great rhythm until around the 92nd kilometre when my bike suddenly stopped. A wire was stuck in the rear tyre. I had to stop and cut it out with a side cutter. I also had a small crash and an issue at the checkpoint, but in the end, I’m super happy,” said Ebster.
“We got our first Rally 2 stage win for Hero MotoSports today. We made steady progress all week, and I’m proud – not just for myself but for the entire team. Finishing second overall in Rally 2 and keeping our lead in the Rally 2 World Championship is a great achievement.”
The Hero MotoSports team will next tackle the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, set to take place from September 22-28. The team is currently third in the World Rally-Raid Championship, 77 points behind Honda.
Dipan Sur
