The Hero MotoSports Team Rally, part of Hero MotoCorp's motorsport division, successfully completed the third and longest stage of the 2024 Rally du Morocco, with both riders finishing in the top 10 of the Rally GP class.

Riders Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo finished in 7th and 8th place, respectively, for this stage. In the overall Rally GP class standings, Ross is currently in 6th place, while Nacho holds the 8th position.

Importance of the Rally du Morocco

The Rally du Morocco serves as the 5th and final round of the 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Earlier this year, during the second round in Abu Dhabi, Hero MotoSports' rider Ross Branch, who is also a professional airline pilot, topped the championship standings. Notably, his closest competitors are not participating in this final round, meaning he only needs to finish the rally to secure the title of World Champion.

Team Strategy and Performance

The Hero camp has refined its racing strategy to enhance the likelihood of a safe finish for Ross. Over the past three days, several riders have withdrawn from the rally due to accidents and injuries. During the third stage today, Ross and Nacho were seen riding together throughout the course.

Stage 3 Overview

The third stage of the Rally du Morocco 2024 was the longest of the week, with competitors traveling from Zagora to Mengoub/Bouarfa, a desert town. The stage began early in the morning, covering a total distance of 687 kilometers, of which 327 kilometers were timed.

Statements from Ross Branch and Nacho Cornejo
Ross Branch remarked, "Today was a great day, and I felt very comfortable on the bike. I had a lot of fun riding alongside my teammate Nacho. I’m looking forward to the final two days of the rally."

Nacho Cornejo added, "We completed Stage 3, which was the longest day of the week. We had a strategy in place to help Ross finish without any issues. Now, there are just two stages left, and we will give it our all."

Provisional Rankings - Stage 3 (Rally GP Class)

Tosha Sharenna - Monster Energy Honda Team - 03h 26m 11s
Daniel Sanders - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - +52s
Adrien Van Beveren - Monster Energy Honda Team - +05m 13s
Ross Branch - Hero MotoSports Team Rally - +17m 59s
Nacho Cornejo - Hero MotoSports Team Rally - +26m 45s

Overall Provisional Rankings after Stage 3 (Rally GP Class)

Tosha Sharenna - Monster Energy Honda Team - 09h 25m 34s
Daniel Sanders - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - +01m 34s
Adrien Van Beveren - Monster Energy Honda Team - +15m 55s
Ross Branch - Hero MotoSports Team Rally - +29m 50s
Nacho Cornejo - Hero MotoSports Team Rally - +50m 01s