Hero MotoSports signs 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade as part of India's next Dakar Hero programme
Hero MotoSports Team Rally has strengthened its commitment to nurturing Indian rally talent by signing 18-year-old supercross sensation Shlok Ghorpade, who will undergo a structured development programme aimed at future Dakar Rally participation.
Hero MotoSports Team Rally has announced the signing of 18-year-old off-road racing prodigy Shlok Ghorpade, marking a significant step in the company's long-term strategy to develop homegrown talent for international rally-raid competition.
The announcement was made during Hero MotoSports Team Rally's 10-year anniversary celebrations held at Hero MotoCorp's Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. The young rider from Satara, Maharashtra, becomes the latest addition to the factory-backed rally outfit as it launches the ambitious 'India's Next Dakar Hero' (INDH) programme.
Ghorpade arrives with an impressive racing rsum despite his young age. Hero MotoSports says the teenager has dominated the national supercross scene, winning every major title available to him and emerging as the fastest Indian rider in the India Supercross League. His performances have established him as one of the country's most promising off-road racing talents.
As part of his transition into rally-raid racing, Ghorpade has already begun training with reigning 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch and other riders from the Hero MotoSports factory team. The company has also outlined a structured development pathway for the youngster, which includes an intensive race simulation programme in Morocco.
The training programme is designed to prepare Ghorpade for the unique challenges of rally-raid competition, including navigation, endurance riding and long-distance desert racing. Hero MotoSports views the initiative as a crucial step towards eventually fielding Indian riders at the prestigious Dakar Rally.
His induction also aligns with the newly launched INDH programme, which aims to identify and nurture young Indian off-road racers through a comprehensive two-to-three-year development process. The programme will leverage Hero MotoSports' decade-long experience in global rally racing to create a sustainable pipeline of Indian talent for international competition.
Speaking about the team's future direction, Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Dr Pawan Munjal said the company wants to create a clear pathway for Indian riders to compete at the highest levels of rally-raid racing. Ghorpade's signing represents one of the first major steps towards achieving that vision.
With training already underway and international exposure planned, the young Maharashtrian rider could become one of India's strongest prospects for future Dakar Rally participation, as Hero MotoSports continues its efforts to build a lasting Indian presence in global rally-raid motorsport.
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Hero MotoSports Team Rally has announced the signing of 18-year-old off-road racing prodigy Shlok Ghorpade, marking a significant step in the company's long-term strategy to develop homegrown talent for international rally-raid competition.
The announcement was made during Hero MotoSports Team Rally's 10-year anniversary celebrations held at Hero MotoCorp's Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. The young rider from Satara, Maharashtra, becomes the latest addition to the factory-backed rally outfit as it launches the ambitious 'India's Next Dakar Hero' (INDH) programme.
Ghorpade arrives with an impressive racing rsum despite his young age. Hero MotoSports says the teenager has dominated the national supercross scene, winning every major title available to him and emerging as the fastest Indian rider in the India Supercross League. His performances have established him as one of the country's most promising off-road racing talents.
As part of his transition into rally-raid racing, Ghorpade has already begun training with reigning 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch and other riders from the Hero MotoSports factory team. The company has also outlined a structured development pathway for the youngster, which includes an intensive race simulation programme in Morocco.
The training programme is designed to prepare Ghorpade for the unique challenges of rally-raid competition, including navigation, endurance riding and long-distance desert racing. Hero MotoSports views the initiative as a crucial step towards eventually fielding Indian riders at the prestigious Dakar Rally.
His induction also aligns with the newly launched INDH programme, which aims to identify and nurture young Indian off-road racers through a comprehensive two-to-three-year development process. The programme will leverage Hero MotoSports' decade-long experience in global rally racing to create a sustainable pipeline of Indian talent for international competition.
Speaking about the team's future direction, Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Dr Pawan Munjal said the company wants to create a clear pathway for Indian riders to compete at the highest levels of rally-raid racing. Ghorpade's signing represents one of the first major steps towards achieving that vision.
With training already underway and international exposure planned, the young Maharashtrian rider could become one of India's strongest prospects for future Dakar Rally participation, as Hero MotoSports continues its efforts to build a lasting Indian presence in global rally-raid motorsport.
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