Joan Barreda Bort and Hero MotoSports Unite for Dakar 2024

Hero MotoSports has revealed their newest addition to the team for the upcoming 2024 Dakar Rally in January, signing Spanish rider Joan Barreda Bort. The Indian squad has also unveiled their full Dakar rider lineup.

Bort's impressive track record boasts an incredible 30 stage wins in the Dakar Rally. Furthermore, Hero MotoSports has secured sponsorship from Monster Energy.

Hero MotoSports has made a significant signing by bringing Joan Barreda Bort into their fold. A renowned figure in the rally-raid world, Bort boasts an impressive record of five Spanish Baja victories, along with triumphs in the Merzouga and Andalucia rallies, among others. Having participated in 13 consecutive Dakar Rallies, he has amassed an incredible 30 stage wins, a record unmatched by any other active competitor in the Bikes category.

Notably, Bort's last ten Dakar Rally campaigns were with Honda, where he achieved a pair of fifth-place finishes in 2017 and 2022, showcasing his consistency and skill in the challenging event.

In addition to this exciting addition to their team, Hero MotoSports has recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with energy drink giant, Monster Energy. In an official statement, the team expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Monster Energy, marking a new and exhilarating chapter for us. This partnership symbolizes our unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries, embracing larger challenges, and embracing the spirit of racing to its limits."

Hero MotoSports Star-Studded Dakar Line-Up

Joan Barreda Bort's debut with Hero MotoSports is scheduled for the upcoming 2024 Dakar Rally, which is set to take place from January 5 to January 19. He will be teaming up with long-standing Hero rider Joaquim Rodrigues, who has been a part of the squad since its inception in 2016.

The team's Dakar 2024 lineup will also include the talents of Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler, solidifying a four-rider powerhouse for the challenging event. Notably, Franco Caimi, who achieved a commendable 10th-place finish in the previous year's Dakar Rally, concluded his two-year stint with Hero MotoSports earlier this year.

In a recent display of their prowess, both Ross Branch and Sebastian Buhler delivered impressive performances at the 2023 Rallye Du Maroc. Branch clinched a stage win and a podium, ultimately securing fourth place overall, narrowly missing the podium by just 1.5 minutes. Buhler encountered a few technical challenges but maintained a consistent performance, earning him a well-deserved ninth place finish. It's worth noting that this rally served as the concluding round of the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, with Branch securing a fourth-place finish in the championship standings.

Want more of the world of automotive – check out the social media pages of GoMotoring. Connect anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.