Hero MotoCorp Ltd today entered into the world of motorcycle rally racing by creating Hero MotoSports Team Rally and has named celebrated Indian rider CS Santosh as one of its two riders.
Santosh will have Portugal's Joaquim Rodrigues as his teammate and the team will make its debut at the Merzouga Rally in Morocco, a Dakar series race.
Entering into the new venture, the two-wheeler giants have formed a partnership with Speedbrain GmbH, the German off-road racing specialist.
The team will be riding on the upgraded version of the successful Speedbrain 450 rally bike. The Merzouga Rally will be held from May 21 to 27.
The team will be headed by Wolfgang Fischer, Managing Director, Speedbrain. The team will be under the direct supervision of Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Hero MotoCorp, and will work in close collaboration with his team at the Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology.
"In the recent past, we have rapidly expanded our global footprint and also made significant investments in enhancing our R&D capabilities. Motorsport is a natural progression for us, as it will allow us to bring value-added products with top-of-the-line technology for our millions of customers.
"This initiative is also reflective of our consistent support to sports and sportspersons. I welcome Santosh and Joaquim on board and wish them all the very best," Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, said,
Braunsperger said, "Hero products are known for their robustness, reliability and quality. It is, therefore, a logical step for us to engage in International Rally Sports - which is the ultimate proving ground for any product and its components. In Speedbrain we have a very professional and technologically capable partner and we look forward to a fruitful journey together.
