Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp now turns its attention towards Stage 2 of the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 as the rally continues south from San Juan into the Mendoza province and the bivouac relocates to San Rafael.
Following a demanding opening stage, competitors now faced another highly technical day characterised by a wide variety of terrain and a strong emphasis on navigation precision.
Stage 2 featured a constantly evolving route made up of rutted tracks, sandy terrain, and heavily vegetated sectors where riders needed to maintain high levels of concentration and accuracy throughout the day. The stage placed equal importance on decision-making and reading the road book correctly at every navigation point.
The opening kilometers were particularly challenging, with medium and tall vegetation combined with dust in the air reducing visibility and making accurate line selection increasingly important. The sandy sections were not highly technical but demanded commitment and momentum from the riders in order to maintain pace across the stage.
Originally planned as one of the longer days of the rally, Stage 2 had been shortened by more than 200 kilometers following logistical and operational adjustments made by the organisers. Despite the reduction in competitive distance, competitors still faced a long liaison section as the rally caravan makes its way towards the new bivouac location in San Rafael.
Following the opening stages of the event, the overall classification remains tightly contested, with navigation strategy and consistency expected to become increasingly more important as the rally progresses deeper into Argentina.
STAGE 2 PERFORMANCE UPDATE
Ross Branch showed strong pace and confidence on the bike throughout the stage but lost time following a few mistakes during the special. The Motswana rider also suffered an impact from a large thorn bush during the stage, adding to an already challenging day. Despite the setbacks, Branch remained positive about his overall riding performance and leaves the stage motivated to continue pushing forward through the rally.
Nacho Cornejo experienced a difficult start to the day following a small crash in the opening part of the special and struggled to find his rhythm through the tight and twisty terrain that characterised much of the stage. Although disappointed with the outcome, the Chilean rider remains fully focused on regrouping and improving heading into Stage 3.
With both riders determined to respond positively, Hero MotoSports Team Rally now shifts its attention to the next stage of the rally as the event continues deeper into Argentina.
Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « There were definitely some positives to take from today and overall I am feeling comfortable on the bike, but at this level small mistakes can have a big impact, especially on a shorter stage like this. I made a couple of mistakes during the day and that’s something I need to improve on moving forward. The mentality stays positive though, and as a team we know we are capable of much more, so now the focus is on regrouping and coming back stronger on Stage 3. »
Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: « It was not the day I was hoping for and after the small crash this morning I struggled to really find my rhythm in the tighter sections of the stage. That said, this is part of rally racing and the important thing now is to stay focused and keep working. I know I can deliver more and will give my all always, so the goal is to reset mentally and come back ready to fight again tomorrow. »
Provisional Rankings – Stage 2
1. Daniel Sanders, Redbull KTM Racing Team, 01h 39m 43s
2. Luciano Benavides, Redbull KTM Racing Team, + 05m 00s
3. Tosha Schareina, Monster Energy Honda HRC, + 05m 17s
14. Ross Branch, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 10m 30s
19. Nacho Cornejo, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 13m 58s
DNS. Michael Docherty, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, DNS
Overall Provisional Rankings – After Stage 2
1. Daniel Sanders, Redbull KTM Racing Team, 05h 20m 11s
2. Tosha Schareina, Monster Energy Honda HRC, + 11m 02s
3. Ricky Brabec, Monster Energy Honda HRC, + 12m 35s
8. Ross Branch, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 22m 05s
13. Nacho Cornejo, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, + 34m 28s
DNS. Michael Docherty, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, DNS