– Ebster finishes runner-up in the Rally2 World Cup
Hero MotoSports Team Rally – the motorsport arm of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp – has successfully concluded its campaign at the Rallye Du Maroc, the fifth and final round of the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), with strong performances across categories.
Spanning five grueling stages through the regions of Fez and Erfoud across the vast Sahara Desert, the rally tested man and machine to the limit. The team riders, Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster, delivered impressive results, finishing 6th and 11th overall, respectively. Tobias also claimed 4th position in the Rally2 category, while Ross Branch – the reigning 2024 World Champion – finished the rally at 22nd overall after a mechanical setback in Stage 3 impacted his overall classification.
In the final Stage 5 on Friday, Tobias recorded the 7th fastest time of the day and a commendable 2nd position in Rally2, while Ross clocked the 10th fastest time. Stage 4 winner Nacho completed the final stage in 21st place after suffering a heavy crash but managed to bring his bike home safely.
Throughout the rally, Nacho showcased his trademark composure and consistency, finishing inside the Top-10 in four out of five special stages, while also claiming his first-ever stage win with Hero MotoSports. The Chilean rider’s performance underscored his reliability and evolving strength within the team. He ends the 2025 season with 55 points, climbing up to 6th position in the World Championship standings – a clear step forward in his W2RC journey.
Tobias, on the other hand, displayed grit and despite facing challenges in certain stages, the Austrian youngster stayed determined, consistently fighting back through the ranks. Having led the Rally2 World Championship earlier in the season until the South African Safari Rally in May, Tobias concludes the season with a solid runner-up position in the FIM Rally-Raid World Cup Rally2 standings with 79 points, marking an exceptional campaign.
For Ross Branch, the rally began on a strong note before a Stage 3 mechanical issue disrupted his momentum. Despite the setback, the ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ showcased resilience and determination throughout the rally. Wearing the prestigious number 1 plate as the reigning World Champion, Ross now passes on the title but remains motivated and optimistic. He finishes the season 9th in the World Championship with 17 points and is already focused on returning stronger at the Dakar Rally 2026.
The final stage, a 311 km loop around Erfoud with a 216 km timed section, wrapped up a rally that lived up to its reputation as the ‘Mini Dakar.’ The 26th edition of Rallye Du Maroc covered 2,274 km across five special stages, blending rocky trails, rolling dunes, desert storms, and soaring temperatures to create the ultimate test of endurance.
This edition also marked the end of an era, as David Castera, who has led the rally for eight years, passed on the baton to Pro Dunes, led by Pep Vila, Manel Arroyo, and Francisco Gracia, who will take over from November 1, 2025. Castera’s leadership transformed Rallye Du Maroc into a globally respected event – defined by sporting excellence, passion, and adventure.
While the 2025 season presented its share of challenges and learning moments for Hero MotoSports, it also strengthened the team’s resolve. With valuable insights, evolving machinery, and renewed determination, the team now shifts its focus to Dakar Rally 2026 -ready to return faster, stronger, and more determined to script another chapter of success in its global rally-raid journey.
Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « The 2025 W2RC season has been a rollercoaster, with ups and downs, crashes, and some unlucky moments. The most important thing is that all three riders are safe and healthy at the finish line in Morocco. This season also saw important progress in the evolution of our bike. It was great to see our new entry, Tobias, perform strongly and finish runner-up in the Rally2 Championship – a promising sign for the future. Nacho claimed his first-ever stage win for Hero MotoSports at the highly competitive Rallye Du Maroc, while Ross made a remarkable recovery from his fall in Portugal to start and finish the rally safely.
« We are now focused on preparing for Dakar, building on everything we’ve learned this season. Thanks to our sponsors, partners, and to David Castera and his team for taking the Morocco Rally to an incredible level. We wish the new organisers of this rally good luck for the upcoming seasons. »
Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « Stage 5 is done at Rallye du Maroc and we made it to the finish! It was a tough final stage with a big crash that left both me and the bike battered, but we pushed through. This marks the end of my first full season with Hero MotoSports, and I am happy with how it has gone. We have had our ups and downs, but the team has been incredible, and the progress we’ve made with the bike is very satisfying. Thursday’s stage win – my first with Hero – was a big highlight. We’ll keep working hard to arrive at Dakar 2026 in top form and aim for a strong result there. »
Tobias Ebster, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « That’s a wrap on Rallye Du Maroc! I am super happy to finish second in the Rally2 World Cup. Today went smoothly – no mistakes, just a clean and steady ride to bring it home safely. Huge thanks to Hero MotoSports for the amazing team effort all week. Everyone had their role to play, and mine was just to ride and do my best. Thanks again to everyone for the incredible support! »
Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « As we wrap up Rallye Du Maroc, it’s a mix of emotions. It has been a really good week for training and testing – we tried a lot of new things on the bike, and overall, made solid progress. I am just glad Nacho is okay after his big crash today. Overall, it has been a productive rally for the entire team, and we are now looking forward to the big one – Dakar 2026. Thanks to everyone for the continued support! »
Provisional Classification of Stage 05 (Overall)
1. Tosha Schareina, Monster Energy Honda HRC, 02h 24m 35s
2. Daniel Sanders, Redbull KTM Racing Team, + 00m 42s
3. Ricky Brabec, Monster Energy Honda HRC, + 01m 53s
7. Tobias Ebster, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 09m 04s
10. Ross Branch, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 09m 37s
21. Nacho Cornejo, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 18m 01s
Provisional Classification after Stage 05 (Overall)
1. Tosha Scharein, Monster Energy Honda HRC, 15h 51m 34s
2. Daniel Sanders, Redbull KTM Racing Team, + 03m 12s
3. Ricky Brabec, Monster Energy Honda HRC, + 09m 37s
6. Nacho Cornejo, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 44m 36s
11. Tobias Ebster, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 01h 11m 41s
22. Ross Branch, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 02h 41m 24s
Provisional Classification of Stage 05 (Rally2 Class)
1. Michael Docherty, BAS World KTM Team, 02h 28m 56s
2. Tobias Ebster, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 04m 43s
3. Martim Ventura, Honda HRC, + 04m 51s
Provisional Classification after Stage 05 (Rally2 Class)
1. Edgar Canet, Redbull KTM Racing Team, 16h 36m 07s
2. Michael Docherty, BAS World KTM Team, + 15m 36s
3. Konrad Dabrowski, Duust Rally Team, + 16m 47s
4. Tobias Ebster, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 27m 08s
2025 World Rally-Raid Championship Standings (After Round 5)
1. Daniel Sanders, Redbull KTM Racing Team, 133 Points
2. Tosha Schareina, Monster Energy Honda HRC, 91 Points
3. Ricky Brabec, Monster Energy Honda HRC, 82 Points
6. Nacho Cornejo, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, 55 Points
9. Ross Branch, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, 17 Points
2025 Rally-Raid World Cup Standings – Rally2 (After Round 5)
1. Edgar Canet, Redbull KTM Racing Team, 113 Points
2 Tobias Ebster , Hero MotoSports Team Rally, 79 Points
3. Michael Docherty, BAS World KTM Team, 78 Points