Hero MotoSports Secures Top-10 Finish at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2025

The rider Jose 'Nacho' Cornejo secured 6th place in the Abu Dhabi Desert challenge, resulting in the great comeback of Hero MotoSports in 2025 world rally-raid championship.  The win adds crucial points to Hero's quest, having seen Cornejo finish seventh in the Dakar Rally in January.

But the rally proved to be difficult for World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch, who had to retire from Stage 2 owing to a clutch problem. Owing to this loss, Hero MotoSports is still in the running, with Cornejo now shifting up to sixth place in the general championship ranking.

Ross Branch’s Early Exit Due to Technical Issues

Branch, who is still on the road to full recovery from injuries sustained in the Dakar Rally, started strong and was running within the top five before technical troubles halted his race. Clutch problems emerged immediately after a refueling stop in Stage 2, leaving him unable to continue.

Reflecting on the experience, Branch shared

I encountered a small technical issue while in the dunes, and I tried my best to fix it and get going, but it just wasn’t our day.” 

“Anyway, we’re back in one piece and healthy. I came to Abu Dhabi wanting to get mentally stronger than I’ve been in the last couple of weeks, and I achieved that. I’m leaving here with my head held high and will now focus on getting ready for the next race in South Africa.”

Cornejo Delivers a Consistent Performance

With Branch out of the race, Cornejo became Hero’s sole contender, delivering a steady and competitive performance. The Chilean racer consistently placed within the top 10 across all stages and even secured two stage podium finishes.

Despite a minor setback in the final stage, Cornejo kept his cool and took sixth overall—six minutes shy of a podium finish. With 24 points now under his belt, he moves to sixth position in the World Rally-Raid Championship standings.

"I’m glad to have made it to the finish line of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2025. We kept pushing and were fighting for the podium until the last stage. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it, but I’m happy that we could give it our all," Cornejo stated after the race.

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What’s Next for Hero MotoSports?

Having the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge behind them, Hero MotoSports will now set their sights on the South African Safari Rally in May 2025. It will be an especially important event for Ross Branch since it will be on home soil, allowing him to ride to his advantage using his local knowledge of the terrain. Cornejo is also expected to compete, as is Sebastian Buhler, making a comeback following a shoulder injury he suffered while at Dakar.

As the championship continues, Hero MotoSports is still working hard to stamp their mark on the next set of rounds.

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