Hero MotoSports Team Rally, was formed in April 2016 through a strategic partnership between Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and Speedbrain GmbH, the German off-road racing specialist. Since then, the team has had an impressive run in their debut year with a stellar 12th place finish at the Dakar 2017, win at the India Baja and 3rd place finish at Desert Storm and an enviable 100% arrival rate in all the rallies it has participated in so far.
In their 2nd year, the team is looking to expand their performance horizon, starting with the rider preparations. As a part of Hero MotoSports’ vision to promote the sport, it has started an initiative to identify new talent and nurture them into professional rally riders. The first rider under this initiative is Spanish talent, Oriol Mena Valdearcos. Oriol has over 13 years of experience in World Enduro Championship and 14 years in Spanish Enduro Championship. He has been the Enduro Junior World Champion, 2009 and has won the International Six Days Enduro, as a member of the Spanish Trophy team, in the years 2007, 2009 and 2010.
In the rally world, Oriol has done 2 rallies so far, the Sardegna Rally in Italy in June 2017, where he finished a highly impressive 2nd overall, and his debut at the Merzouga Rally in Morocco in May 2017, where he finished 12th overall, with a victory in the Stage 5 to his name. Oriol Mena has already started training with the team to prepare his participation at the Dakar 2018.
Oriol Mena, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said: « I am really excited to be a part of Hero MotoSports Team Rally. The way this team performed in the 1st year and at the Dakar was really impressive and in a way I see a lot of synergy between what I want to do and the team’s vision. I am looking forward to training with this team and racing along JRod and C S Santosh. »
Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said: « After the first year with Hero MotoSports, we are happy to have the chance to work with another promising rider, Oriol Mena, who we know since many years in the off-road sport. We think he fits very well into our structure and objectives, and would be a good addition alongside team mates JRod and CS. His inclusion will reinforce our efforts to build up Hero MotoSports with super-motivated, professional newcomers in the Rally scene. »
Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said: « We extend a warm welcome to Oriol Mena into Hero MotoSports Team Rally. He is a natural talent and offers great promise if trained well. We are very excited at the team’s prospects in upcoming rallies with another strong rider added to the mix. This initiative is a testimony of the long term vision we have drawn for the Hero MotoSports Team Rally and our continuous endeavour to keep improving our performance on all fronts. Our best wishes to Oriol for a successful career in Rally racing with Hero MotoSports. »
Press Release,