N°24 Bike HT RALLY RAID
driver
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AARON MARE

(zaf) Born on 25/07/1994 1.8m / 85kg

Sponsors

Acacus Group

2022: Retired after Stage 1
2020: 15th Rally GP

2024: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (1st)
2023: 1st place Abu Dhabi Baja championship - 1st place Dubai Endurocross Championship
2022: Dakar Rally 15th Rally GP
2021: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge - 4th Overall
2020: Dakar Rally 2020 with HRC Monster Energy Honda (Retired) - UAE Desert Championship 1st place
2019: Dubai Baja (1st), Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (16th), Atacama Rally (11th), Morocco Rally (19th)
2017-2018 Emirates Desert Champion
2018 Desert Storm Rally Champion (India)
2011 Qualified 125cc Junior World Championship
2008 Top 15 85cc Junior World Championship
2008 3rd 85cc South African Nationals
2003 2nd 65cc South African Nationals

“I’m not going just to make up the numbers”

RIDER FACTS

  • Aaron Mare started riding moto-x at the tender age of 4, back in his native South Africa. His talent took him from there to the FIM Junior World Moto-X championships and then onto the United States, to compete in the AMA outdoor nationals. He moved to Dubai in 2016, where inevitably he discovered the joys of racing in the desert. 
  • Considered to be one of the fastest rally raid riders currently without a factory contract, Aaron more than proved his worth by winning this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, while riding as a ‘stand in’ for the Hero factory team.
  • In the process he became the first Hero rider to win a round of the W2RC. During a previous ‘stand in’ gig for Hero he finished 15th Rally GP rider on the 2022 Dakar.
  • The Dakar hasn’t always smiled on the South African. Two years prior to his 2022 performance, he had to retire at the end of the first stage with a dislocated wrist, while making his Dakar debut with the Honda factory team.
  • Embedded in the highly respected privateer HT Rally team for the 2025 Dakar, Aaron fully intends to show all the factory team managers exactly what they’re missing out on!

2025 AMBITIONS

“I might not have a factory ride at the moment but I reckon I have the next best thing. I work as a software engineer for Acacus Group here in Dubai and they are also my sponsor. They have been instrumental in setting up a base for me to get the most out of my week with work and riding. In addition to that, when I got the offer from Hero to race the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge they were more than happy to let me ride for the Indian manufacturer. Of course, here the conditions are perfect for preparing for the Dakar, we have dunes on our doorstep and I can train with my buddy Michael Docherty. As far as this upcoming Dakar is concerned, I’m not going just to make up the numbers. I think a Top 10 finish is totally realistic, but I’ll be aiming for a Top 5!” 

Vehicle

HT RALLY RAID

HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY REPLICA
HT RALLY RAID

  • HUSQVARNA
  • 450 RALLY REPLICA
  • 449 cm³ single cylinder 4 stroke
  • twin cradle in steel
  • approx. 70 bhp
  • 139 kg
  • 34,5 litres
  • HT Rally
  • HT Rally
  • Rally GP

Ranking 2025

All news of A. Mare

Newsflashes - 14/01 10:28 [GMT +3] - Bike

Mare out

Aaron Mare fell after 187 km, injuring his right leg. The South African has been forced to exit the rally and is being taken care of by the medical team. He occupied 20th place in the virtual general rankings at the time check prior to his fall.

Newsflashes - 13/01 08:51 [GMT +3] - Bike

Mare in the top 5

Aaron Mare set off 49 minutes after Daniel Sanders this morning and therefore trails the leaders by a considerable distance in the general rankings. However, the South African has been quick so far today, with the 5th best time after 70 km. The winner of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2024 hopes to improve on his best result since the start, which as 11th place obtained on stage...

Newsflashes - 11/01 09:10 [GMT +3] - Bike

Mare leads as Klein rises to third

Mason Klein, the eighteenth (and last) Rally GP rider to start this morning, went through km 39 with the third-fastest time, 26 seconds behind the leader, fellow American Aaron Mare.

Newsflashes - 04/01 09:06 [GMT +3] - Bike

Bühler out

Sebastian Bühler is being extracted from the course following his crash at km 68. The Hero factory rider hurt his shoulder. The German had already tumbled out of stage 3 of the 2024 Dakar and got injured at the Rallye du Maroc a few months ago. Three men are still in the race for the Indian squad: Ross Branch, Nacho Cornejo and Aaron Mare. There remain 20 Rally GP...

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