5 takeaways for Hero MotoSports from 2017 Merzouga Rally

Every event in the history of every sport gives its viewers an opportunity to analyse the aspects within it. Things like how each participant performed, or how each team did with the resources they had, are the main focus of discussion among the critics.

After the curtains were drawn on the 2017 Merzouga Rally, the fans are back to dissecting the facets of the event. For Hero MotoSports Team Rally, it was a highly productive outing as both their riders finished in the top 20 of the competition.

And here are the 5 things that the team can take from the 2017 Merzouga Rally:

#1 Joaquim Rodrigues winning the Prologue

A good start gives one the perfect platform to launch for what lies ahead. Despite the fact that a good start doesn’t really guarantee a good finish, it does give one a psychological push to carry on the good work till the end.

This is what happened in the case of Portuguese sensation, Joaquim Rodrigues, as he finished the prologue stage as the winner after defeating the rest of his peers. Winning a stage at any international competitive event is a commendable achievement. This fearless rider then went on to finish the day at 5^th position to finish off an impressive first day.

#2 CS Santosh’s comeback

In any sport, coming off the back of an injury is one of the hardest things. Not only does a person risk aggravating the injury, they also have to start from the scratch since injuries harm their preparations ahead of a massive event.

And when that trade is Motor Sports, the stakes go much higher. Merzouga Rally is known to be one of the hardest rallies in the world. Spanning all over Morocco, it is known as the mini-Dakar due to the extreme conditions in which it takes place.

Keeping this in mind, CS Santosh’s performance after returning from injury was a highly admirable effort. Most would not have been able to complete the rally under such circumstances, but Santosh not only did that, he also finished at 17^th. Talk about returning with a bang!

#3 Another 100% finish

In the world of rally raid, finishing is the first goal of any team, be it experienced or rookie. For most rookie teams, finishing is the only goal for a few years before they can even think about going for a position. For Hero MotoSports Team Rally, who is just about a year old and only 6 rallies down, including this Merzouga Rally, the run has been nothing short of spectacular with 100% arrival in all the 6 rallies.

This kind of a start and performance is a matter of envy not only for rookies but even for some of the more celebrated and experienced teams. It just goes on to show that the team has got its priorities sorted and basics right, whether it’s the machine or the team.

#4 Joaquim Rodrigues’ comeback after stage 3

At one point in the Rally—during the Stage 3, to be precise—it seemed as though Joaquim Rodrigues wouldn’t be able to finish the Rally as his bike’s cooling system had a leak in it. All the good work of the preceding two days, all that effort could have gone in vain.

However, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going—and JRod is one tough nut! The Portuguese daredevil refused to let the circumstances win and kept fighting—and, oh boy, what a fight he put up! After fixing the leak, his trials were not over as a big sandstorm threatened to thwart every bit of his effort to salvage the day for the team. His showed grit and perseverance to ride through the storm with almost no visibility to reach the stage finish at 23^rd position.

What’s important to note is that while many decided to wait for the storm to subside, our Hero, decided to take it on. As the saying goes - fortune favours the brave - JRod took this confidence into the next stage as he blazed through the stage to finish in 4^th place, his best stage position yet in the Merzouga Rally. Now, that’s called a comeback!

#5 JRod’s second place finish in the final race

On the final day of the race, the riders had to race in true Motorcross fashion in a single loop of 50 kilometers—and the Portuguese bettered his previous day’s finish by coming second on the final day.

His final standing in the Rally was at number 9 and his performance in the final day was the perfect icing on the cake. If not for some minor setbacks and sandstorm, JRod could very well have finished in the top 5 or even the podium. But this uncertainty is what makes rally racing so exciting for the proponents of the sport and the fans alike.

The performance of both Hero riders in this year’s Merzouga should fill their fans with optimism. Both Rodrigues and Santosh finished in top 20 which, which with everything considered, was a great result for Hero MotoSports. They can take great pride and confidence from this performance their prized assets put up in Morocco.