Mmegi

Branch all but wins world title

On the verge: Branch could wrap up the world title today PIC: ROSS BRANCH FACEBOOK
On the verge: Branch could wrap up the world title today PIC: ROSS BRANCH FACEBOOK

Ross Branch must complete the final 374km of the Morocco Rally's 2,468km to clinch the 2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) title this afternoon.

He is Botswana's only competitor at the Morocco Rally that serves as the final round of the World Championship. Branch lined up ahead of the Morocco Rally in the lead of the W2RC standings with 72 points from the first four rounds and just nine ahead of American racer, Ricky Brabec, who has 63 points while Adrien van Beveren of France sits third with 56 points. Branch sat in the top three after finishing second in round one of the 2024 W2RC, the Dakar Rally and accumulated 30 points in January. The Jwaneng-lad went on to secure yet another second-place finish in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and bagged 20 points. It was a slower finish during the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in Portugal as he finished fifth and added 11 points. He added another 11 points with a fifth-place finish at the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina to take his season tally to 72 points.

In Morocco, Branch began his World Championship finale with a stage win in stage one of the race. He dropped to sixth place on stage two after losing just over 13 minutes and fell 11 minutes behind new stage leader Spaniard, Tosha Schareina. On stage three, the local biker moved into fourth place as he inched closer to becoming the first Motswana motorsport off-road champion. Yesterday, in stage four of the Morocco Rally, Branch finished sixth to keep his chances alive. Branch's chance has been boosted by the withdrawal of his closest competitor, Brabec, on stage one of the Morocco Rally. The American had an accident just less than 100km into the stage. He sought medical rescue, forcing him to let his chances at the World Championship title slip. The stage proved to be fatal as French rider, Frederic Baudry, died on stage one after crashing whilst he was riding in second position of the Morocco Rally. Van Beveren on the other hand is having a steady time on the bike as he sat fifth after stage three of the Morocco Rally.

Editor's Comment
Gov't must empower DCEC urgently

As the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government takes charge, it must act decisively to equip the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) with the tools, laws, and resources needed to combat graft. The time for half-measures is over. DCEC Director-General, Botlhale Makgekgenene’s, recent address to the Public Accounts Committee paints a stark picture. Over five years, leadership instability, chronic underfunding and weak...

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