12 Nov 2026

Botswana’s celebrated motorbike racer, Ross Branch is intensifying preparations for the 2027 Dakar Rally, despite a training injury that forced him to miss the Rallye du Maroc.

Branch, who rides for Hero MotoSports, said his rehabilitation following a crash during training in Namibia, had been slow, but encouraging, as he worked toward regaining full fitness ahead of the demanding international competition.

He explained that his recovery programme involved starting with simple exercises and gradually increasing their intensity to rebuild strength and endurance.

“The physical rehabilitation had been long and slow, but it was definitely getting better every day. I could gradually exercise for longer periods, and that was a positive sign,” he said.

Despite the setback, Branch remain optimistic about his return to competitive racing, maintaining that preparations continue; both physically and technically.

He said navigation, which remained one of the most challenging aspects of rally-raid racing, was also receiving considerable attention.

Branch and his team had been studying roadbooks from previous Dakar editions, analysing mistakes and identifying areas that require improvement.

He said information gathered would help sharpen their navigation skills as they tested new roadbooks in Namibia and Khawa.

As the team leader, Branch also highlighted the importance of race strategy, particularly when deciding whether to open a stage or follow behind other competitors.

He explained that opening a stage could offer valuable time bonuses but also exposed riders to unmarked hazards, making positions six or seven more favourable.

“From our side, we were looking at avoiding opening more stages because we had previously been successful when attacking from behind. It was also a little safer because unseen dangers often caught the first riders,” he said.

The Hero MotoSports team had also made significant improvements to its Hero 450 Rally motorcycle, particularly its engine performance, to enhance competitiveness against rival manufacturers.

Branch applauded the engineers for their efforts, saying the team had worked hard to improve the machine’s speed and overall performance.

Branch, who has won the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship and finishing second in the Dakar Rally in the same year, said his ambition was to give his best in every competition. ENDS