Aged 18, successful in Indian off-road racing and now making his debut in the World Rally-Raid Championship: Shlok Ghorpade gets the chance to take the next big step with Hero MotoSports. At the Rallye du Maroc 2026, the young rider will compete in Rally2. His long-term goal is Dakar, but a demanding apprenticeship comes first.
As of 30 September 2026. Results are as they stood after Stage 1 on 29 September. Later stage results are not included.
Who is Shlok Ghorpade?
Shlok Vikram Ghorpade comes from Satara in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Hero presented the 18-year-old in June 2026 as a new addition to its rally team. His roots lie in motocross, supercross and dirt track. His move to international rallying therefore comes from an environment in which starts, close duels and short, intense races set the rhythm. Source: Hero MotoCorp, team announcement of 22 June 2026.
In his official rider profile, Hero lists seven INSC Dirt Track titles and describes him as the youngest winner of the SX1 category. According to the team, he also has three international trophies in the 250 cc class. These are results from his off-road career to date, not World Rally-Raid Championship titles. Source: Hero rider profile.
Morocco: a decent start, a real learning task
His W2RC debut began on 28 September with 19th place in the prologue and tenth in Rally2. He was 1 minute and 17 seconds off the fastest rider. Ghorpade had already gained international rally experience in Zaragoza earlier. Hero reports a podium finish on his first stage there; that is expressly not a verified overall win. Source: Hero prologue report, published by MFE-Live.
The first long stage in Morocco brought a much bigger test: 636 kilometres from Agadir to Zagora, of which 268 kilometres were against the clock. Ghorpade finished the stage 16th in Rally2 and 25th on the day overall. After the prologue and first stage, he stood 15th in Rally2 and 24th overall, 21 minutes and 24 seconds behind the leader. Source: official Hero report on Stage 1.
| Classification | Overall | Rally2 |
|---|---|---|
| Prologue, 28 September | 19th | 10th |
| Stage 1, 29 September | 25th | 16th |
| Standing after Stage 1 | 24th | 15th |
Provisional positions based on the Hero team reports cited; not the final result of the rally.
After the stage, Ghorpade spoke of a small mistake that cost time. The report does not state the exact cause. For a debutant, what matters is analysing such situations and approaching the next stage with renewed focus. A single fast section says less about his future than several cleanly completed rally days.
What Hero has planned for him
Ghorpade is part of India’s Next Dakar Hero. The programme, presented in June, is meant to introduce Indian off-road talents systematically to international rally raids. Hero describes a development path of two to three years covering riding technique, navigation, fitness and endurance. Ghorpade has already trained with Ross Branch and other team riders. At the same time, Hero extended its partnership with Dakar organiser ASO by five years. Source: official programme presentation.
The direction is clear, the timing is not: a binding Dakar start for Ghorpade in a particular year is not confirmed in the announcements reviewed. No firm commitment to Dakar 2027 should therefore be derived from the Morocco entry.
In Morocco he lines up alongside Nacho Cornejo and Michael “Mike” Docherty. Ross Branch is absent through injury. However, Ghorpade rides in Rally2 and therefore does not simply take over Branch’s RallyGP role. Source: Hero on the Morocco line-up.
An experienced crew and a demanding motorcycle
With the Hero 450 Rally, Ghorpade gains access to the team’s rally technology. For the young rider, the environment matters as much as the motorcycle: mechanics, preparation and experienced teammates can help him spot mistakes faster and work on progress in a targeted way.
Hero is already an established team in sporting terms. Ross Branch finished second at Dakar in 2024 and won the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship the same year. With Ghorpade, the aim is now also to bring a young Indian rider up to that level. Source: official team history.
Indian riders have long been part of Hero’s history: C. S. Santosh contested Dakar 2017 for the team. Ghorpade represents the next generation and a structured training path. Source: Hero’s review of Dakar 2017.
Young hero? The potential is there
His results so far point to riding talent. Rally raid adds other demands: reading the roadbook precisely, managing energy over hours and easing the pace in good time when unsure. Even a fast supercross rider has to learn that.
For Hero, the project combines youth development with a clear prospect for Indian riders. Whether Ghorpade becomes the next big name will be decided by his progress, not by the name of the programme. The first World Championship kilometres are done. What counts now is consistency, learning progress and as many kilometres as possible under competitive conditions.
Image credits
- Image 1 – rider portrait: provided by Hero MotoSports on the official National Racing page; photographer not named. Original file.
- Image 2 – Morocco prologue: published by MFE-Live in the Hero team report of 28 September 2026, image title “GHORPADE PROLOGUE”; photographer not named. Original file.
- Cover and social banners: editorial collages created with the integrated image tool, based on the two photos above and the official Hero MotoSports logo. Background and design AI-edited; no additional documentary race photographs.
