Asad Khan wins the inaugural Hero Dirt Biking Challenge

In a bid to unearth Indian talent in motorsports (specifically in the off-road scheme of things), Hero MotoCorp kicked off its Dirt Biking Challenge in July this year and after 120 days, 415 cities and 5 stages, a winner has emerged in the form of Asad Khan. Rakesh N and Gidyun were first and second runners-up respectively.

Olesya Dias was crowned the best female off-roader in the event. The top three also won a brand new Xpulse 200 4v and a contract worth Rs 10 lakh, Rs 6 lakh and Rs 4 lakh respectively. The details of the contract are not revealed, but expect it to play a big part in honing the talent of the winners.

Hero says that more than 1 lakh people had registered for the challenge. After several rounds of races and filtration, 90 riders reached the zonal round. The final race saw the top 20 riders slug it out to take top honours. The final round was held in Hero MotoCorp’s Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur and the tracks were curated as per international standards, thanks to Hero MotoSports Team Rally. The top 20 rubbed shoulders and got tutored by Hero Moto’s international riders like Joaquim Rodrigues and Sebastian Buhler.

On the conclusion of the Dirt Biking Challenge, the CTO of Hero MotoCorp, Dr Arun Jaura said, “The Hero MotoSports Team Rally is the flag-bearer of Indian off-road racing globally and has been inspiring amateurs as well as professionals in the country to aspire for success on the international circuit. With superior technology and innovations, the Xpulse 200 4V is the ideal bike for riders to get into the sport, pursue their passion and go beyond boundaries. We are delighted to see our efforts bearing fruit and are confident that this sport will grow faster from here. Congratulations to the winners. Hero MotoSports will continue to support national talent in the future too.”

Kudos to Hero MotoCorp for launching this platform, it is definitely a shot in the arm for the off-road community and we look forward to seeing more events like these from Hero and other auto manufacturers. A little bit of competition has always helped brands and their brand value in public eye, while helping Indian talent compete in world stage. We can’t wait for the next edition to start.