Hero MotoSports Grabs a Strong Finish at Rally Raid Portugal 2025 with Determined Performance

Hero Motosports Team Rally is representing the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, at the Rally Raid Portugal 2025. The Indian racing team has successfully concluded its challenging stint at the ultimate round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Despite some setbacks, riders Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster showcased resilience, finishing 11th and 42nd overall, respectively, in one of the toughest events on the calendar.

The 2025 iteration of the Rally Raid Racing demanded a five-stage rally that spanned Portugal and Spain. All the experienced testing riders across the diverse terrains with nearly 2,400 km of dirt track compete against the clock. Hero MotoSports now shifts focus to the season finale in Morocco, aiming to build momentum ahead of the Dakar Rally 2026.

Strong Rally Campaign for Hero MotoSports

Hero MotoSports team riders Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster finish 11th and 42nd overall, respectively. Moreover, Tobias, while competing in the Rally2 category, clinched 25th place in his class. He also demonstrated flashes of top speed with multiple top-10 stage finishes, including the 9th fastest time in the final 287 km loop through the forests around Lisbon.

Despite mechanical issues and a penalty that impacted his overall ranking, Tobias secured 25th in class and holds a strong 3rd place in the championship standings. Even the FIM World Rally-Raid Champion of 2024, Ross Branch, had a strong start in the rally, but he was later forced to retire after an unfortunate crash in Stage 2.

Also Read: Hero MotoSports Rally Team Navigates Mixed Fortunes at Rally Raid Portugal 2025

Setbacks and Comebacks

The team was able to perform well, as Tobias’ journey was marked by memorable events of promise as well as difficulties and hardships. While racing at the Rally-Raid Portugal 2025, he had a mechanical fault occur in Stage 2, and the rider also suffered a time penalty in Stage 3, causing critical setbacks. Despite these hurdles, Tobias remains optimistic about his prospects for clinching the Rally2 title.

Nacho Cornejo, one of the team’s most consistent performers, finished 11th overall. His determined ride continued to showcase his reliability, wrapping up the final stage in 19th place and maintaining his 7th position in the 2025 World Championship standings.

Rally Raid Portugal: A Premier Challenge

The 2025 Rally Raid Portugal is only the second race of the edition, and it has rapidly established itself as one of the most technically demanding races on the WR2C calendar. The race features a 40% increase in timed competition distance from the previous year’s edition.

Looking Ahead to Morocco and Dakar 2026

The Rally-Raid Portugal 2025 has come to an end. Hero MotoSports is setting its sights on the season finale at Rallye du Maroc from October 10 to 17, 2025. The Morocco event will provide the ultimate proving ground before the 2026 Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest and most prestigious rally-raid. Team manager Wolfgang Fischer acknowledged the challenges faced in Portugal but reaffirmed the team's effort. Termination to finish strong in Morocco and carry valuable momentum forward.

Also Read: Hero MotoSports Sparks Rally Raid Portugal with Exceptional Stage 1 Performance

Overall Provisional Rankings—RallyGP Class

Overall Provisional Rankings - Rally2 Class

The Hero MotoSports team congratulated Daniel Sanders, the new 2025 World Champion, as the team looks ahead to future challenges with renewed focus and determination.

Conclusion

Hero MotoSports exhibited strong determination at Rally Raid Portugal 2025, overcoming challenges and securing solid finishes. With a focused outlook, the team aims for a powerful season finale in Morocco and is gearing up confidently for the Dakar Rally 2026.