“This is just the beginning”
RIDER FACTS…
- Although he is now a factory rider for the Hero team, Ross Branch used to earn his living as an airline pilot back home in Botswana. It's a job he continues to pursue part-time between rallies.
- After discovering motorcycling and rally-raid in the wide-open spaces of his native country, he set off on the 2019 Dakar, finishing as best rookie in 13th place overall. A year later, Branch continued to impress with his first stage victory.
- His results led him to join the factory Yamaha team. But his two Dakars in ‘blue’ ended in retirement.
- Branch began a new chapter in his motorcycling life when he joined the Hero team in India. It was an option that paid off, as he competed against the best, winning five special stages and finishing second in the last Dakar, just 10 minutes behind winner Ricky Brabec.
- The 2024 season was a new turning point in the 38-year-old rider's career, as he clinched the W2RC title at the end of the Rallye du Maroc. Nicknamed the ‘Ferrari of the Kalahari’ by a Botswanan fan, Ross Branch is among the favourites for the 2025 Dakar.
AMBITION 2025
“Finishing on the podium of the Dakar has always been our goal, and it was a dream come true in the last edition. As for winning the W2RC title, there are no words to express the magnitude of this incredible moment. I'm delighted to see all the team's hard work come to fruition, and witnessing everyone's happiness is an achievement in itself. I'm lucky to be part of such a passionate family! I must thank everyone who believed in me and gave me this opportunity. It's truly extraordinary! It's been a long journey, 34 years of motorbike racing.
Looking ahead to 2025, I see a bright future for our young team: this is just the beginning. This W2RC victory is one of Hero's most significant steps in the right direction, and I'm very excited about the future. The Dakar will be really good in 2025. We still have a lot of work to do to get to the top step."
