Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, Hero MotoCorp, has taken the lead position at the ongoing Rallye du Maroc 2024 with an impressive performance in Stage 1. Hero team pilot Ross Branch emerged as the fastest rider of the stage.

Riders Ross Branch, Sebastian Buhler and Nacho Cornejo, who were competing in the premier Rally GP Class, finished the first stage in 1st, 6th and 8th place, respectively. In the overall Rally GP Class standings, they are currently ranked 1st, 6th and 9th. Branch had the advantage of starting 11th for Stage 1 after placing second in the Prologue, which he capitalised by finishing first by a 48-second cushion over his closest rival. Cornejo started the stage today and made a determined effort to go cautiously across the incredibly challenging terrain, reaching the finish line without suffering any significant errors.

The first complete Stage of the 2024 edition included 180 km of timed sections and an additional 200 km of liaisons. The event organisers had to make last-minute changes to the race strategy yesterday when floods caused delays in the cars' arrival at the bivouac in Zagora. Participants in Stage 1 were dispatched on the Stage 2 course, although with a shorter mileage and later start times. However, this circuit around Zagora turned out to be one of the most difficult stages that Maroc has experienced recently. On rocky, uneven paths badly harmed by the rains, the day began with dangerous pathways that lay ahead, with much of the original routes swept away. In the last stretch, where visible, rolling trails guided the way to the finish line, the riders finally found some solace after risking their journey across narrow dunes.

In Stage 2, the participants will return to the original course planned for Stage 1. This second loop around Zagora will be one of the longest specialities in this year, spanning 314 km in the Sahara and an additional 158 kilometres in road sections.

Rallye du Maroc is the fifth and final round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2024. Since the second race of this season, Branch has held the top place in the standings chart, and this impressive perfoemance in the Maroc Rally has increased his chances of winning the World Championship title.

Branch said, "I’m happy to have finished Stage 1 with a good result. It was a really tough one – definitely one of the most challenging stages I’ve ever ridden at Rallye Du Maroc! The tracks were really beaten up and washed away from yesterday’s rains, but I managed to pull through. Nacho did an amazing job opening the track; I can only imagine how much more difficult it would have been for him. Opening the Stage tomorrow will be a mammoth task, but we’re pushing forward with confidence."

Buhler said, "It was a very difficult Stage – perhaps one of the hardest I’ve ever ridden here at Maroc. The terrain was full of rocks and rivers, making it challenging to manoeuvre. I tried to maintain a good pace, but it wasn’t easy – every time I went full on the gas, I seemed to be hitting something. I’m glad to have finished well, and I hope tomorrow will be a bit smoother."

Cornejo said, "Stage 1 is complete, and it was very rough, thanks to the rains from yesterday. I did my best opening the Stage, and lost a few minutes here and there. But overall, I’m happy with my focus and navigation. Tomorrow is a new day, so we’ll keep pushing and doing our best – one day at a time."

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India Bike Week (IBW), presented by Gulf Syntrac, has shifted its 2025 venue from Goa to Panchgani, Maharashtra. The move, executed due to the rescheduling of Zilla Parishad elections in Goa to the IBW dates, means riders will now converge in the Deccan hills on 19^th and 20^th December 2025.

IBW 2025 will transform Panchgani into a high-altitude playground for riders, featuring new trails, cooler winds, bonfire nights, camping and after-parties. The edition promises IBW’s line-up yet, offering motorcycling experiences across multiple terrains – from hill climbs and mud trails to manufacturer-led road tests.

Martin Da Costa, Founder and CEO, Seventy Event Media Group, said, “As we celebrate 12 years of India Bike Week, it’s incredible to witness how this festival has grown into one of the world’s most spirited motorcycling gatherings. Although circumstances pushed us to shift venues this year, our ethos remains the same – community, adventure, and the freedom to explore. Panchgani offers us a fresh canvas and IBW 2025 is shaping up to be our most exciting edition yet.”

IBW’s 12th edition includes showcases such as the Endurance Stunt Show by Pol Tarres powered by Gulf Syntrac, the Wheelie Experience by Aprilia and India’s Test Ride Arena featuring the majority of India’s premium motorcycle line-up, now including a showcase by the Gulf TrackHouse MotoGP Team.

Over 10 riding experiences await, from the Pulsar Stunt School to a dedicated Kids’ Mini Moto Track by Vida’s Dirt-E K3, along with masterclasses led by expert creators and overlanders.

Competitive racing will feature on FMSCI-backed tracks such as the IBW Hill Climb by Reise Moto and Harley-Davidson Flat Track Race.

The Skoda Kodiaq All-Wheel Drive Track makes its debut, offering driving and off-road challenges.

Presented by Carlsberg Elephant Strong Soda, the festival’s music line-up includes performances by King, Karan Kanchan, Sugga Honey, along with Harley-Davidson Rock Riders’ Music featuring Antariksh.

The BIG TRIP presented by Gulf Syntrac returns with a compelling line-up. Twelve speakers – including global overlanding legends Simon & Lisa Thomas, Elspeth Beard, Zubin Jaafar and storytellers Kshitij Saxena, Gautham AG, Candida Louis and Maral Yazarloo – will bring narratives of grit, resilience and exploration.

The Ladakh Tent presented by Carlsberg Elephant Strong Soda hosts discussions, including ‘India on Two Wheels,’ a Storytellers Roundtable, ‘RTW 101,’ and ‘Women in Motorsports.’

The Jameson Connects Howling Dog space brings together creators, rider groups, and lifestyle influencers.

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, registered dispatches of 604,490 units in November 2025, marking a 31 percent YoY growth.

In the domestic market, the company sold 570,520 two-wheelers, up 30 percent YoY, as against 439,777 units sold last year. On the exports front, the sales came at 33,970 units, as against 20,028 units, marking a 70 percent increase YoY.

This performance sustains the growth momentum following the festive season, driven by positive consumer sentiment across urban and rural markets, supported by GST benefits and a macroeconomic landscape.

VAHAN registrations showed strong domestic demand, with 886,330 units registered in November 2025. Retail registrations grew 26 percent to 1,882,739 units for the combined period of October and November 2025, reflecting dealership and consumer demand.

The company's performance was supported by the success of new models such as the Xtreme 125R, GlamourX 125, Destini 110, and Xoom 160.

VIDA, powered by Hero, sustained its growth trajectory with 12,199 VAHAN registrations, reflecting a 66 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The company strengthened its position in the EV sector, capturing a 10.4 percent market share. The VIDA Evooter VX2 continued to drive retail growth and sales volume, and the company also expanded the line-up with the VX2 Go 3.4 kWh variant.

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has announced its sales performance for November 2025, recording total sales of 122,300 units. This marks a strong 30 percent YoY growth over 94,370 units sold in November 2024.

In the domestic market, the sales touched 96,360 units last month, which was 23 percent growth over 78,333 units a year ago.

On the exports front, sales grew 62 percent reaching 25,940 units in November, up from 16,037 last year.

Additionally, SMIPL’s aftersales business continued gaining momentum with spare parts sales of INR 955 million in November.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “We are grateful for the growing confidence our customers place in Suzuki. Their support, along with the dedicated efforts of our dealer network, continues to drive our growth. Alongside strengthening our presence, we are also expanding customer engagement initiatives and experience-led programs to bring riders closer to the brand. We will continue to invest in enhancing accessibility, after-sales experience, and community-building as we work towards sustained growth.”

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has reported wholesales of 591,136 units in November 2025, up 25 percent YoY.

The total sales figure for the month included 533,645 units in domestic sales and 57,491 units in exports.

During the period, the automaker continued its commitment towards road safety by organising awareness campaigns across various cities nationwide, encouraging responsible road behaviour through interactive learning.

HMSI also celebrated Children’s Month with a Kids Carnival across all its manufacturing facilities, Traffic Training Parks (TTPs), and Safety Driving Education Centers (SDECs). The initiative, themed ‘Safety Explorers: Journey Through Traffic Land,’ aimed to make road safety learning engaging for children while promoting safe habits from an early age.

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