Branch pumped up for Hero debut

The Desert Challenge is the second round of the World Championship after the Dakar Rally in January. Branch is currently down the pecking order in the World Championship standings after crushing out of the Dakar Rally earlier this year. ‘The Kalahari Ferrari’ will be making his debut on the Hero motorbike after joining the Indian-based rally team on a two-year deal last month. Speaking to Mmegi Sport from the UAE, Branch said he is pumped up for the race as he looks to kick start his Hero Motorsport Rally team career on the right gear. “I am really happy to get the race underway with a new team. I have been in Dubai for a week testing and training with them, and I am very happy.

I think it is still going to be a long season so we have a lot of time to get used to the bike and to make a few more changes. Overall, I am really happy the race starts in two days' time and I think we are ready. I love the bike and team members are very cool and I have a lot of experience so I will learn a lot from them.” “Unfortunately, due to my crash at Dakar, my world championship standings are not great for me. But I am going to give it my best. We still have a lot of races to catch up [with] starting with Abu Dhabi.