“My new team is added motivation”
RIDER FACTS
- Thirty-year-old José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo will compete in his 10th Dakar, now with the Hero Motorsports Rally Team after six seasons with Honda.
- After his first two Dakars, Nacho Cornejo came into general consideration a few days before the 2018 edition - when he decided to retire for financial reasons - when he received a call from the Honda Team to join the team to replace the injured Paulo Gonçalves. ‘Nacho’ made the most of that opportunity, and in an impeccable performance, he finished 10th.
- His Dakar record includes six top-ten results, with his best finish of fourth in 2020. He won two stage victories, including the final stage.
- The 2021 edition was his most difficult. ‘Nacho’ was leading the general classification and was second on stage 10, one minute behind Ricky Brabec, when he had a severe crash at km 252 of the special stage. Although he completed the stage, he decided to retire from the race in agreement with the medical team. In 2022, he suffered a delay on the opening stage but bounced back with two stage wins. He showed great pace in the second week and finished a credible sixth place.
- In the last edition, Nacho displayed his speed, scoring three stage victories, although mechanical problems relegated him to sixth place in the final classification.
- Happy with his new team and teammates, Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler, the Morocco Rally was good for him personally and in helping his teammate Branch win the World Championship. This motivation and his work on the bike offer excellent prospects for this new Dakar.
AMBITION 2025
J.I.C.F.: “We had some very high points on the Dakar 2024. I was happy with the level we showed and the three stage wins. Unfortunately, some mechanical problems put me far behind in the general classification. After that came the team change, so rather than thinking about the W2RC result, the focus was on adapting to the new bike as soon as possible. It significantly changed my career after so many years with HRC, but everything happens for a reason. My teammates, the managers, mechanics, engineers, and the whole group behind the rally team warmly accepted me at Hero. They are a family, and everyone works together as a team. I am thrilled to be with them.”
"Then came the Desafío Ruta 40. The racing atmosphere in Argentina is always very good, and the people welcome us very well. But it was challenging for me, being the first race with the new bike. This rally was very good for me; I had excellent stages fighting for the top places, and in others, we had to work as a team and support Ross (Branch), but it was what we had to do. I've also found the settings that suit me on this bike, and my confidence in it has dramatically improved for the Dakar.”
“It will also be my tenth participation, and I will become a legend at 30 years old... Looking back, I don't think that when I started, I would have thought I would do so many Dakars, let alone have ten editions at 30 years old, but everything has happened so quickly. I'm delighted with how everything has turned out, and I'm motivated to continue with this for many more years. Now, with my new team, it's extra motivation; it gives me mental and emotional renewal that makes me happy. Regarding goals or results, I'm working hard to improve on my 4th place in 2020, which is my best result in Dakar.
