Flying the KHS flag high in Morocco
Ross Branch who matriculated at KHS in 2004 made history after winning the World Rally Raid Championship.
Former Krugersdorp High School (KHS) learner and now a Botswana citizen Ross Branch became the first African rider to win the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
Ross, who represents Hero Motorsports Team Rally powered by Motul, cemented his win on African soil after his earlier successes this season (including his second place at the 2024 Dakar Rally) and only needed to complete the final stage of this month’s Rallye du Maroc or Rally of Morocco to be crowned the 2024 W2RC champion.
As a result of his success, Africa has a new World Rally Raid Champion.
KHS head of marketing Lauren Coetsee said, “On behalf of KHS, we are extremely proud of Ross for achieving greatness. Thank you for raising the KHS flag high in Morocco.”
She added Ross matriculated in 2004.
Riding a Hero 450, Ross helped Hero Motosports Team Rally become the first (and to date, only) Indian team to achieve a podium finish at the Dakar Rally. He completed the gruelling event only 11 minutes behind eventual winner Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda powered by Motul).
The Dakar was the opening event for the 2024 World Rally Raid Championship so it’s entirely fitting that Ross ended the season as World Champion, having begun it on the podium in Saudi Arabia.
According to Motul publicist Adilia Joubert, this initial success laid the foundation for Ross’s consistently strong performance season.
“The superb reliability of his Hero 450 motorcycle and the support of partners including Motul, plus Ross’ dedication and passion, have been the most significant factors contributing to this historic achievement.”
Branch started racing at four years old and can now add the title of World Champion to his Dakar podium, two Dakar stage wins and seven victories in his home Rally Raid event, the Botswana 1 000 Desert Race. His first World Championship win came in Kazakhstan in 2021, and his love of the adventure side of rally racing has now seen Ross reach the pinnacle of Rally Raid competition.
“His passion is shared by his fellow riders in Hero Motorsports Team Rally. Founded in 2016 and based in Jaipur, India, the team symbolises the global nature of Rally Raid racing, and the fact that Africa now has its first World Champion in this demanding discipline speaks to the worldwide appeal of this most demanding discipline.”
