Hero MotoSports Team Rally has signed Argentine Franco Caimi as its fourth rider.

In 2004, Franco became the youngest rider in enduro history to win a gold medal at the age of 16. He has won two Latin American championships, three national championships each in Argentina and Chile and six gold medals at the gruelling International Six Days Enduro.  

At the prestigious Dakar Rally, Franco won the Rookie of the Year title once in 2017 with an eighth-place finish and obtained the same result again – at the 2020 season.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the team is set to commence its Road to Dakar 2022 with the upcoming Andalucia Rally scheduled from May 11-16, 2021 at Villamartin, Spain. This will also be the first outing for Franco in Hero MotoSports colours.

Hero kicked off 2021 with an impressive performance at the Dakar Rally with two of its riders – Joaquim Rodrigues and Sebastian Buhler – posting their best-ever Dakar standings finishing at the 11th and 14th positions respectively.

The team’s campaign in 2020 was disrupted by the Covid-19 enforced restrictions; however, as motorsports activities gradually resumed across the globe, they had two very productive outings in the Andalucia Rally and the BAJA Portalegre, winning the latter, with Sebastian Buhler and Joaquim Rodrigues securing the 1st and the 2nd place respectively. With this win, Sebastian was crowned the winner of the FIM BAJA World Cup, giving Hero MotoSports Team Rally their first BAJA World Cup win. 

Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, “We are excited to kick off the Road to Dakar 2022 campaign with a strong addition to our team. Within a short span of time, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has created a differentiated position for itself and we are glad to appeal to talented riders like Franco. It is definitely a big boost for us. Currently, we are prepping up for the Andalucia Rally and are extremely excited to have Franco represent the Team. We wish him good luck for a successful journey with Hero Motosports Team Rally.”  

Franco Caimi, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, “It's an honour for me to be associated with Hero MotoCorp, which has a rich heritage and has achieved great significance in the rally sport. I am extremely thrilled to join the team and thank them for bestowing their faith in my abilities. The team has been delivering impressive performance over the years and I look forward to riding alongside some of the best and promising riders in the sport.” (MT)

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Ducati has launched the fifth-generation Monster motorcycle in India, with prices starting from INR 1.39 million ex-showroom. The model arrives following recognition at the Red Dot Design Award 2026, where it won in the Product Design category.

The Monster introduces an 890 cc V2 engine featuring Intake Variable Timing (IVT), it produces 111 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 91.1 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm, with valve clearance maintenance intervals set at 45,000 km.

The motorcycle uses a monocoque frame, a technopolymer subframe and a double-sided swingarm, bringing the overall weight without fuel to 175 kg. The suspension is handled by a 43 mm Showa upside-down front forks and a rear Showa monoshock. Braking is handled by dual 320 mm front discs with Brembo M4.32 radial calipers, while the vehicle rides on Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres. Ergonomic changes include a seat height of 815 mm and repositioned handlebars.

Electronic systems are managed via a six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU), which includes cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control and four riding modes. System settings are displayed on a five-inch TFT screen operated via a handlebar-mounted joystick.

The model is available in Monster and Monster+ variants across three colour schemes, with the Monster+ including a headlight cowl and passenger seat cover. Ducati offers two maintenance coverage packages, Ducati Protect (+) and Ducati Protect (Pro), which cover servicing parts and labour for up to four years.

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said, “The Ducati Monster has always been the bike that introduced people to what a Ducati really feels like, and this new generation makes that experience more accessible than ever. With the new V2 engine, class-leading maintenance intervals and a completely reimagined design, it's a bike built for riders who want the full Ducati experience in a form that's easy to live with every day.”

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Chennai-headquartered mid-sized motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield brought its street culture platform, HunterHood, to Kochi on 8 August 2026, combining music, art, skateboarding, urban sports and creative expression. The sixth edition of the event followed previous iterations in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Shillong and Lucknow.

Inspired by the Hunter 350 motorcycle, HunterHood serves as a platform for street-inspired cultures, gathering communities of artists, musicians, dancers, painters, urban sports enthusiasts and designers. Prior to the main event, Royal Enfield hosted a Community Pre-Jam on 7 August in collaboration with Loop Skatepark to engage local skaters and street communities.

The main stage featured performances from Kerala's independent and hip-hop music scene, including Tribe Mama MaryKali, Ranj x Clifr, GABRI, MC Couper, Baby Jean and Dabzee. The Community Stage presented rapper Ameekha Liyana Ansar, DJ Dsco Patrol (Nihell), street culture collective We Are The Boom and Chenda Melam percussion performances.

Skateboarding demonstrations were conducted by the Fly Squad Skateboarding Community and Kovalam Skate Club. Live graffiti, visual art and interactive installations were created on site by HH Art Spaces, Alan Pappy, Trespassers, SquidWorks, Karthik Venugopal, Samriddhi Arora and Om Chopra. Additionally, Kerala-based artist collective Trespassers completed a ten-day mural project focused on local youth culture and riding.

The event incorporated interactive workshops covering skimboarding, football, cricket, basketball and graffiti. Custom motorcycle builds were displayed by XLNC Customs, JD Customs, Garuda Machina, Kunwar Customs and Eimor Customs. The venue also featured an illuminated tunnel installation incorporating lights, Malayalam conversations and cinema dialogues to replicate the experience of riding through the city.

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India Yamaha Motor has announced the return of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition for the R15 V4 and MT-15 Version 2.0 motorcycle models. The release, the company says, responds to customer demand for the company's racing-livery options.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Edition models display liveries inspired by Yamaha's racing division across the fuel tank, side panels, and tank shrouds. The R15 V4 MotoGP Edition is priced starting at INR 176,050 ex-showroom Delhi, while the MT-15 MotoGP Edition begins at INR 177,230.

Alongside the special editions, Yamaha updated colour variants across its FZ product range. The FZ-S Fi Hybrid receives an Ice Storm colour scheme, while the existing Matte Black version gets updated graphics. The FZ-S Fi line gains a Metallic Black finish.

Pricing for the updated FZ range starts at INR 129,880 ex-showroom Delhi for the standard FZ-S Fi, with the FZ-S Fi Hybrid variant priced at INR 139,200.

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Studds Accessories, one of the leading two-wheeler helmet manufacturer, has launched its latest product the Raider Youth, a full-face helmet designed for younger riders and adults requiring smaller head sizes at prices starting INR 1,175.

The release marks the introduction of a dedicated small-sized full-face model into the company's product line-up. The Raider Youth is an ISI-certified helmet that provides chin and lower-face coverage, moving beyond the open-face helmet designs that have traditionally dominated the youth and small-head-size segments in India. It is offered in two sizes: XXS (520 mm) and XS (540 mm), catering to children, teenagers and female riders or adults with smaller head dimensions.

The product features an outer shell constructed from ABS material paired with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner. The ventilation system uses top exhaust ports to channel airflow through the interior, while additional hardware includes a scratch-resistant quick-release visor, micro-fibre inner lining and a quick-release chin strap mechanism.

Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, STUDDS Accessories, said, "Young riders today are more aware of style, comfort, and safety than ever before, and parents are increasingly seeking products that offer enhanced protection without compromising on usability. The Raider Youth has been developed to address these expectations through a purpose-built full-face design that delivers greater coverage and confidence for young riders. Its vibrant colour palette, modern styling, rider-focused comfort features, and trusted safety credentials have been brought together to make helmet usage both appealing and reassuring. We believe the Raider Youth will resonate strongly with young riders and their families while encouraging the habit of safe riding from an early age."

The initial launch comprises the Unicolor variant across 12 finish options, including solid, matte, and chameleon finishes: White, Black, Cherry Red, Flame Blue, Lavender Pink, Pastel Green, Petrol Blue, Dark Pink, Chameleon Pink, Chameleon Blue, Matt Black, and Military Green.

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