08 Jan 2026

After a difficult outing in last year’s edition of the world’s toughest off-road race, the FIA/FIM Dakar World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), local biking sensation Ross Branch has returned to the 2026 Dakar Rally determined to redeem himself. 

The rally, which got underway on January 3 in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, marks Branch’s eighth appearance at the iconic event. Ahead of the race, Branch dismissed last season’s setbacks, saying they would not define his performance this year. 

He expressed confidence in his Hero 450 Rally bike, powered by a 449.5cc single-cylinder engine, which has been extensively refined by the Hero Motorsports Team Rally. 

Branch said the improved machine would enable him to tackle the rally’s demanding terrain, ranging from towering sand dunes and craggy mountains to vast open plains. 

Nicknamed the 'Ferrari of the Kalahari' by his fans, Branch praised his team for their meticulous preparation and vowed to mount a strong challenge as he seeks to reclaim the W2RC Championship crown he won in 2024.

“The team definitely deserves a good result. That is what we are going to do. We are going to give it everything we have got,” said Branch.

The former multiple winner of the Toyota 1000 Desert Race, popularly known as Mantshwabisi, finished seventh in both stages two and three. However, by Wednesday, he began to build momentum, mixing it up with the leading riders in the competition.

In stage four, Branch finished fourth on his Hero bike, trailing three Monster Energy Honda HRC riders led by Spain’s Tosha Schareina, followed by American Ricky Brabec, who edged out compatriot Skyler Howes amid heavy dust conditions.

Stage four also marked Monster Energy Honda HRC’s first podium sweep of the 2026 Dakar Rally. BOPA