Motorcyclist Ross Branch realised his childhood dream when he won the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) earlier this year, and he has now set his eyes on adding a Dakar Rally title to his trophy cabinet in 2025.
This ambition has been in the making for the past 33-years, beginning with a young five-year-old boy who wrote a letter to his father expressing, “One day I want to be world champion.”
At 38, Branch fondly remembers how that letter was displayed at the back of his bedroom door by his father, a daily reminder of his aspirations that accompanied him throughout the years. Winning the world title is now a dream come true for him.
The South African-born motorcyclist, who now resides in Botswana, made history as the first African rider to win the W2RC title during the fifth and final stage of the Rallye du Maroc in Morocco. His victory also marked a significant achievement for the Indian team, Hero Motosports Team Rally, as it was their first world championship title.
With the countdown to the Dakar Rally 2025 well underway, Branch shared his focus on the event in an interview with Independent Media. He aims to build on his impressive second-place finish earlier this year.
“For me, the Dakar is the biggest round on the calendar; the entire world watches, whereas with the W2RC it is not as well supported. Everybody wants to win the Dakar, and we have prepared well,” Branch explained.
He acknowledged the hard work put into making sure that his bike is ready for the challenge.
“I finished second at the 2024 edition, so we know what it takes to finish on the podium and also go all the way to win the Rally. We will give it our best, but with so many kilometres in the desert, anything can happen. There is a lot that can go wrong, but we are going to try to limit our mistakes and, hopefully, get the win in the end.”
The 38-year-old has gleaned valuable lessons from his six years of experience in rally racing and is diligently working to address some of his previous shortcomings.
“It has only been six years of racing this facet of the sport, so I am inexperienced when it comes to the navigation side of the rally. I have been working extremely hard and doing a lot of kilometres to ensure that the navigation is correct, and I’m also comfortable and confident when it comes to it.”
As a passionate two-wheel rider, Branch expressed his admiration for MotoGP, proclaiming he follows the sport avidly whenever he gets the chance, particularly appreciating the contributions of South African rider Brad Binder.
“I am a big fan of the MotoGP, and I follow it every weekend even if I’m racing. Any African who is doing well overseas and is involved in the racing space helps with the development of the sport. It provides an opportunity for the big teams to open their eyes and look beyond Europe or America.”
Branch highlighted the significance of their efforts, stating, “For what Brad is doing for MotoGP and what I’m doing for rally, along with a few others in motocross, I think it’s super important.
“Although Brad hasn’t won a race yet, he has done an exceptional job, and I believe that within a couple of years, he will be a champion in that category.”