Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport arm of Hero MotoCorp, has announced its entry in the Dakar Rally 2022. The team will be competing with a two-rider squad with Franco Caimi and Joaquim Rodrigues. This will be the team's sixth consecutive participation in the Dakar, which is one of the most gruelling rallies in the world. Dakar goes back to Saudi Arabia with the rally scheduled to take place between January 1-14, 2022. India's CS Santosh, along with Sebastian Buhler, have been ruled out. The two riders are still recovering from injuries.
Also Read: Hero's Joaquim Rodrigues Finishes On Podium In The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Joaquim Rodrigues has been with Hero MotoSports since its inception and this will be the rider's sixth Dakar with the team
Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, "We have had a great year so far and we look forward to starting the next year with a strong performance at the Dakar 2022. The preparations for the Team have been good, and even though we are two riders short, we are confident of a great campaign at the Dakar. The bikes have also been performing very well, and we are excited to be back for our sixth tryst with the ultimate test. I also wish our team riders CS Santosh and Sebastian Buhler a speedy recovery, and hope to see them back in the camp soon."
Both Caimi and Rodrigues have been podium finishers this year across different Cross-Country Rallies including the Silk Way Rally and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge respectively. Rodrigues finished the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship 2021 in fourth place overall. This will also be JRod's sixth year with the team at Dakar since he came on board in 2016. Meanwhile, this will be Caimi first run at Dakar with Hero. The rider though has participated in the rally previously on five occasions. The riders will be astride the Hero 450 Rally bike which has seen improvements in top speed and acceleration.
Also Read: Kazakhastan Rally 2021: Hero MotoSports Finishes Stage 4 In Top 10
This will be Franco Caimi first run in the Dakar with Hero. The rider has participated in the rally on 5 previous occasions
Joaquim Rodrigues, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, "It feels great to be going back to the Dakar after a year of consistent growth for myself and for the entire team. The team's performance in the season so far has been praiseworthy. Following my best ever finish at the Dakar in 2021, the year also brought me my first FIM Championship podium at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Along with the team, I have been training particularly hard for the Dakar since then, and I look forward to a great month ahead."
Franco Caimi, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, "My first year with Hero MotoSports has been an exciting one, and I am happy to have the opportunity to represent the team at the Dakar Rally 2022. We are entering the Dakar after some impressive runs in recent months, including a podium finish for me at the Silk Way Rally. I'm confident that our current momentum will bring us great results at the Dakar."
The 2022 Dakar Rally takes place in Saudi Arabia once again and will see the riders cover a total of 8,000 km over 14 days
Hero also clarified that its other riders including Sebastian Buhler and India's CS Santosh are still recovering from injuries and will have to sit this one out. Buhler is the winner of the Hungarian Baja 2021, who was on the roster for the Dakar 2022 but had to withdraw due to an injury at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. CS Santosh, on the other hand, is still recovering from the crash he suffered in the 2021 Dakar Rally.
Also Read: Dakar Rally 2021: CS Santosh Out Of Dakar Following Crash In Stage 4
The 2022 Dakar Rally will run for 12 stages over 14 days with the short prologue stage on January 1. The rally will travel through different cities of the country across varied terrains. A rest day has been planned in the capital city of Jeddah on January 8, when the rally reaches the halfway mark. The 2022 Dakar will see the riders cover a total of 8,000 km including the liaison stages. A total of 430 vehicles will be participating in the rally with 149 of them being motorcycles. The 44th edition of the Dakar Rally will also be the opening race of the newly formed World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
The Rally Raid Championship, replacing the Cross-Country Rallies Championship, will run for five rounds with Dakar followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Rally Kazakhstan, Andalucia Rally and the Rally du Maroc.
