Hero MotoSports has included 18-year-old Shlok Ghorpade in its team. Under the ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ programme, he will be prepared for international competitions like the Dakar Rally.
Maharashtra: onlyRo Motosports Team Rally has added India’s 18 year old young off-road racing talent, Shlok Ghorpade to their team. This decision is part of the company’s long-term plan to promote India’s rally-raid racers at the international level. This announcement was made along with the launch of a new development program named ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ (INDH).
Shlok Ghorpade, hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, is a young rider who has performed brilliantly in the Indian Supercross circuit. Even though he is only 18 years old, he has attracted everyone’s attention by continuously winning big matches at the national level. Becoming the fastest Indian rider in the India Supercross League is a major achievement of his.
Hero MotoSports team says that Ghorpade has already started international level training. He has been training with experienced riders from the factory team, including 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion Ross Branch. The purpose of this training is to develop the skills required for Rally-Raid races, such as navigation skills, long-distance endurance and desert riding experience.
Under the new ‘India’s Next Dakar Hero’ (INDH) programme, young Indian riders will be groomed for international competitions in several phases over the next two to three years. The plan also includes special race simulation training to be held in Morocco. The main objective of Hero MotoSports is to create a paved road so that Indian riders can participate in the toughest off-road races in the world like the Dakar Rally.
Dr. Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, made it clear that the company’s long-term vision is to provide a fair opportunity to Indian riders to compete at the international level. Shlok Ghorpade’s joining the team is one of the first big steps taken in this direction. It is expected that this project will give a new direction to Indian off-road racing and open a strong path for international competitions. As his training progresses, there is growing hope that Shlok Ghorpade will emerge as a strong talent representing India in the Dakar Rally in the future.