The world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters Hero MotoCorp announced Hero Dirt Biking Challenge – the first-of-its-kind pan-India talent-hunt program by an OEM (original equipment manufacturer). It aimed at providing the much-awaited platform for budding riders, enthusiasts and amateurs who want to pursue their passion in off-road racing.
The HDBC will reach as many as 45 cities to find India’s top amateur off-road riders. The winner and two runners-up will receive the popular Hero Xpulse 200 4V motorcycle and sponsorships contracts from Hero MotoCorp worth Rs. 20 lakh. It will be telecast over MTV and streamed over Voot in the month of November 2022. The participants of the HDBC will also get a Golden Opportunity to be trained by the Hero MotoSports Team Rally – one of the top international teams and the only Indian team ever to win a stage at the Dakar Rally. Hero MotoSports Team Rally riders Ross Branch, Joaquim Rodrigues, Sebastian Buhler and Franco Caimi will work with the top participants and provide them with invaluable coaching.
After screening of the online submissions, the first rounds will be held over multiple weekends in 45 cities and the shortlisted participants will move to the regional rounds that will be held across 18 cities. The top-100 selected riders will go to a five-day regional boot camp, where they will get another golden opportunity to be trained by the ace Indian rider CS Santosh. The boot camp will conclude with a race and the top-20 participants will then move for the finals to be held at the world-class Center of Innovation of Technology, Hero MotoCorp’s R&D center in Jaipur.