GETTING READY FOR A RALLY

WITH PRO RACER ROSS BRANCH

I've come a long way from using two sets of gear over 14 riding days vs. a fresh set every day, raising over a million Botswana Pula to compete in my first Dakar Rally, to being a part of Hero MotoSports Team Rally and, best of all, being paid to do what I love. I'm humbled and grateful to be on this rally journey. I hope that with the limited experience I've gained, I can share a glimpse into what it's like in our no longer elusive but rather unlimited and achievable rally world.

Although I raced for years, my first major international rally was the biggest event of them all-Dakar. At that time in 2019, the entire rally world seemed like a dream. But it was a dream I'd wanted ever since I watched the finish of the 1992 Paris-Cape Town rally with my dad, who played a huge role in my racing career. It was only after my success in motocross and cross-country racing that I began to believe that the international rally scene was the next step. From an independent rookie to racing for the Hero Motorsports Rally Team, it was a dream come true. But with that came the expectations and responsibilities of performance. I no longer have the problems of a privateer rider, but to be successful, I must appropriately utilize these new resources. This means lots of pressure but attached to that is a lot of pride.

Rallies involve thousands of kilometers on a race bike, difficult terrain and conditions, high speeds, and insane competition, so you must be well-equipped and prepared both mentally and physically. You need to learn to dig deep, to keep pushing hard when your body is telling you to stop; mental strength makes a big difference here.