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)

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a leading manufacturer of two-wheelers in the country, has reported wholesales of 112,948 units for April 2025, which is 14 percent higher than 99,377 units it sold last year.

The company reported an 8 percent growth in its domestic sales at 95,214 units, as compared to 88,067 units last year, while exports grew by 57 percent at 17,734 units, as against 11,310 units for the same period last year.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “This positive start to the year fills us with gratitude. Each unit sold represents the beginning of a new journey with our customers and we are thankful to be a part of it. We will continue to work sincerely to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and contribute positively to their journey with us.”

Last month, the company further upgraded its product lineup, including the Hayabusa to be OBD-2B compliant.

Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor Company has announced its wholesales for April 2025. The company reported witnessing a 16 percent growth, selling 443,896 units, as against 383,615 units last year. 

The domestic two-wheeler sales include 220,527 motorcycles and 169,741, while exports accounted for 106,683 units.  

EV sales grew by 59 percent, rising from 17,403 units in April 2024 to 27,684 units last month.

Three-wheeler sales grew by 50 percent YoY from 9,023 units to 13,566 units.

Blending the pulse of street culture, community and high-octane energy, Royal Enfield hosted the first-ever edition of HunterHood in Mumbai and New Delhi during the last weekend of April 2025. 
Inspired by the spirit of Hunter motorcycle of the company, the HunterHood event – the latest cultural initiative built around the ethos of “From the streets, For the streets” – brought together riders, artists and urban explorers across the two Indian mega cities. 
The company also unveiled ‘The 2025 Hunter 350’ with three new colourways and upgraded features inspired by and designed for ‘The Coolest Neighbourhoods of the world’.
Featuring unique programming in the form of skateboarding sessions, spontaneous cyphers, vibrant graffiti art, live music jams, dynamic dance circles and exhilarating BMX stunts, the event witnessed high-octane performances by some of India’s top musicians like Dino James, Wild Wild Women, Shah Rule, Suggahunny, The Spindoctor, OG Shez, Ikka, DK Mocity, Dhanji, Lush Lata and Samriddhi Bhargav. 
The event saw over 12 homegrown, premium and emerging street-led brands spanning skateboarding, apparel, sneakers and the culinary space participate. It was attended by 5,000 people across the two mega cities.