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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Bajaj Auto, a leading two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer, has launched the 2025 editions of its flagship Dominar 250 and Dominar 400 motorcycles at prices starting INR 191,654 (ex-showroom Delhi) and INR 238,682 (ex-showroom Delhi) respectively.

The company shared that the updated models now boast significant electronic and ergonomic enhancements aimed at elevating the sports touring experience in India.

With the introduction of Ride-by-Wire technology, selectable Riding Modes, a newly designed Bonded Speedometer and other factory-fitted touring accessories, the 2025 Dominar range, Bajaj aims to reaffirm its leadership position in the premium touring segment.

The Dominar 400 now comes equipped with four Riding Modes – Road, Rain, Sport and Off-Road – delivered via an advanced Ride-by-Wire system and Electronic Throttle Body (ETB). The Dominar 250 features 4-mode ABS on a Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB), providing versatile control in varied riding conditions.

Other notable upgrades include a bonded glass speedometer with improved visibility and weather resistance, an ergonomically redesigned handlebar for better long-distance comfort, a rear carrier with an integrated GPS mount and advanced control switches for intuitive operation.

Sarang Kanade, President, Motorcycle Business Unit said, “At Bajaj Auto, we believe that a Dominar is more than just a machine – it's a gateway to real-world experiences. Traveling imparts knowledge that books cannot. It reveals character, develops resilience, and expands horizons. We are committed to spearheading the Sports Touring revolution in India with the 2025 Dominar range, which features motorcycles that are ‘Born to Sprint’ and ‘Built to Tour’. The 2025 Dominar range is not just an upgrade, it’s a declaration: the road belongs to those who don’t hold back.”

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, announced that it dispatched 553,963 motorcycles and scooters during June 2025, which was 10 percent higher than the 503,448 units it sold last year.

In terms of retail, the company shared that it achieved 394,000 units sales across urban and rural markets in the country, which will be further augmented by the onset of monsoon across parts of the country and a positive economic outlook.

What’s more, the company recently introduced a new model and Battery-as-a-Service offering under the Vida VX2, which further expands the company's EV offerings. Last month, the company’s electric vehicle brand Vida dispatched 7,178 units and recorded 7,665 registrations in the country.

Furthermore, Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson have also announced the 2025 model year line-up and pricing for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in India. The range introduced the new CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide limited-edition models. The Harley-Davidson range starts at INR 239,000 for the H-D X440 in India and goes up to INR 4.23 million for the Road Glide.

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Suzuki Motorcycle India reported sales of 95,244 units in June, which represents an 8 percent YoY growth, as compared to 88,287 units sold last year.

In the domestic market, the sales grew by 4 percent at 73,934 units, while exports grew by 24 percent at 21,310 units.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “We remain optimistic as our growth continues across both domestic and international markets. Our continued focus on delivering superior riding experience and customer centric approach is driving this performance. We will continue to offer greater value to our customers as we strengthen our presence across markets and gear up for the months ahead.”

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has reported its strongest-ever quarterly sales performance in Q1 of FY2026, hitting a record 1.27 million units. This robust growth was underpinned by significant increases across both two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments, alongside a substantial boost in international business.

For June 2025, the company reported sales of 402,001 units, a 20 percent jump compared to 333,646 units sold in June 2024. Two-wheeler sales accounted for 385,698 units, up 20 percent YoY as compared to 322,168 units last year. Of this domestic market sales grew by 10 percent YoY at 281,012 units.

On the other hand, while demand for TVS iQube remains strong, the company reported sales of 14,400 units sold, a slight decrease from 15,859 units last year. This dip it attributed to the ongoing disruptions in the EV supply chain, particularly concerning the availability of magnets, which continues to pose short to medium-term challenges.

On the exports front, the company shipped 117,145 units last month, which was 54 percent higher as compared to 76,074 units in June 2024. Two-wheeler exports were particularly strong, growing by 58 percent to 104,686 units from 66,434 units in the previous year.

During the first quarter, two-wheeler sales grew 17 percent, with sales rising from 1.05 million units to 1.23 million units in Q1 FY2026.

Three-wheelers experienced 46 percent increase, with sales climbing from around 31,000 units in Q1 FY25 to about 45,000 units in the current quarter.

Total exports for the quarter grew by 39 percent, reaching 352,000 units compared to 254,000 units in the first quarter of FY2025.

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