INDIA in F1

Tag: Harith Noah

  • Harith Noah all set to make a return at the South African Safari Rally

    Harith Noah all set to make a return at the South African Safari Rally

    Sun City, South Africa,  17 May 2025: Dakar star and celebrated motorsports rider Harith Noah is set to take part in the third round of the FIM World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025, the inaugural South African Safari Rally, here from May 18 to 24. This is his first competitive return to rally raid events after an injury-led exit at the Dakar Rally, earlier this January. Noah registered for the Rally Raid World Championship for the first time but logged no points in the first round due to his exit and the injury kept him out for the next round at Abu Dhabi.

    Noah, part of the Sherco TVS Rally Factory, had a crash during Prologue at Dakar 2025. He fractured his wrist forced him to go for immediate surgery. Now, just four months later, he’s looking forward to tackling the unforgiving South African landscape and getting back in the mix for his 2025 campaign, and can still salvage a decent position with two more rounds to go.

    “After Dakar, I needed time to recover from the injury, but everything went well and I’m back to full fitness now. This is my first race since the crash, so there are definitely some nerves, which is normal. But the South African Safari Rally is a new challenge for everyone, the route is unfamiliar territory across the board. The key is to stay calm, get used to the bike again, and take it one kilometre at a time,” said Harith Noah.

    South African Safari Rally brings the W2RC to South Africa for the very first time, promising a groundbreaking addition to the championship and offering one of the most challenging, scenic, and diverse rally routes yet. With extreme terrains and rapidly changing climates, the Safari Rally is poised to become a standout fixture on the W2RC calendar.

    The 2025 W2RC season features five rounds across three continents, pushing riders through a wide spectrum of terrains and conditions. The year kicked off with the legendary Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Now, the championship heads into uncharted territory with the debut of the South African Safari Rally. The final two rounds will take riders to Portugal for the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in September, before culminating with the iconic Rallye du Maroc in October.

  • Sherco TVS Rally team signs up Bradley Cox to join Harith Noah and Lorenzo Santolino: W2RC

    Sherco TVS Rally team signs up Bradley Cox to join Harith Noah and Lorenzo Santolino: W2RC

    Bengaluru, 7 May 2025: The Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team announced on Wednesday the signing of South African rider Bradley Cox, who will join the ranks alongside seasoned competitors Lorenzo Santolino and India’s trailblazing rally star, Harith Noah. This strategic addition aims to fortify the team’s presence in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) as they gear up for the upcoming Safari Rally in South Africa, scheduled from May 18 to 24, according to a press release received here from Sherco team.

    Bradley Cox: Rising Star in Rally-Raid

    At 27, Bradley Cox has rapidly ascended the rally-raid hierarchy. After clinching the Rally2 World Cup title in 2024, he now steps up to the premier RallyGP category. Cox is set to make his official debut with Sherco TVS at his home event, the Safari Rally.

    “I am very excited to be joining the Sherco Factory Racing Team. It is a dream come true to ride for a Factory team, and I am looking forward to what is to come,” Cox shared enthusiastically.

    Harith Noah: India’s Trailblazer in Rally-Raid

    Harith Noah, hailing from Shoranur, Kerala, continues to make significant strides in the rally-raid arena. In the 2024 Dakar Rally, he etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to win the Rally2 class and securing an impressive 11th place overall, the highest finish by an Indian rider in the event’s history. Noah’s journey has been marked by resilience; after overcoming a serious, injury in 2022, he returned stronger, showcasing his determination and skill.

    His accolades include multiple stage wins in the Dakar Rally, notably in Stages 8 and 10 of the 2024 edition. Beyond Dakar, Noah has demonstrated consistent performance in international rallies, including a class victory at the 2023 TransAnatolia Rally in Turkey.

    Despite a setback in the 2025 Dakar Rally, where he had to withdraw due to a wrist injury sustained during the prologue, Noah remains a pivotal figure in the Sherco TVS lineup. His experience and tenacity continue to inspire and elevate the team’s competitive edge.

    A Formidable Trio for Sherco TVS

    With the addition of Bradley Cox, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team now boasts a dynamic trio poised to make significant impacts in upcoming rally events. The combined experience of Santolino, the groundbreaking achievements of Noah, and the fresh vigour of Cox position the team as formidable contenders in the rally-raid circuit.

    As the team prepares for the Safari Rally, fans and enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the performances of this strengthened lineup, confident in their potential to achieve remarkable results.

  • MOTORBIKE RACE: CHARTING A NEW WORLD

    MOTORBIKE RACE: CHARTING A NEW WORLD

    Key points:The entry list features 136 riders ready to tackle the 7,706 km route, including 5,146 km of specials where the battle for the crown in the 46th edition of the Dakar will unfold.Toby Price and Sam Sunderland have moved on to fresh pastures, leaving just two former Dakar champions in the hunt —Kevin Benavides and Ricky Brabec. Both are reaching for the stars despite suffering hair-raising crashes earlier in 2024.This will blow the title fight wide open, with the W2RC champion, Ross Branch, determined to continue his rise and the progression of the manufacturer Hero, who have brought Nacho Cornejo into their stable. Honda remain in the mix with Adrien Van Beveren and Tosha Schareina, who are also chasing their maiden Dakar victory. Over at KTM, the red-hot form of the winner of the Rallye du Maroc, Daniel Sanders, promises to spice up the competition, while the 19-year-old Spaniard Edgar Canet will give a taste of things to come when he becomes the youngest factory rider in the history of the category.The Indian Harith Noah, now a Sherco factory rider, will attempt to defend his Rally 2 crown against challengers such as Romain Dumontier and Michael Docherty. 

    Riders who win the Dakar while sporting race number 1 are few and far between. The last reigning champion to mount a successful title defence in the motorbike category was Marc Coma in 2015, when he made the newest addition to a collection of five Touareg trophies that now takes pride of place in his trophy cabinet. A decade on, much to the dismay of the purists (and Ricky Brabec, to some extent), it is the W2RC champion, Ross Branch, who will be racing as número uno. This small departure from tradition has the merit of naming as top favourite the rider who has undoubtedly been the man of the year: the most consistent, the most in-form, sometimes the fastest (no overall but five stage wins throughout the season), and always the most cheerful, which certainly helps. His consistency propelled him to second place behind his American rival at the last Dakar. The Botswanan’s quantum leap was even more remarkable in that it marked Hero’s best-ever performance, cementing the Indian manufacturer’s position among the heavy hitters in the category. The team’s rising stock has enabled them to lure the Chilean Nacho Cornejo into their ranks, where he will serve either as a second team leader or as a trusted lieutenant to the “Kalahari Ferrari”. This will come in handy when taking on the competition…
    With two motorbikes on the podium in the last edition, Monster Energy Honda HRC have a legitimate shot at the throne. Questions linger over the fitness of their leader, Ricky Brabec, who gave his knee a proper battering in a crash at the Rallye du Maroc in October. While a return to top form is not entirely out of the question for the American, Adrien Van Beveren has shown more robust form since his third-place Dakar finish, going on to take second place in the W2RC, right behind Ross Branch. The time may have come for the man from northern France in his tenth attempt, but in the Honda camp, the much younger Tosha Schareina is also showing the growing maturity that becomes more evident with each passing year. The Spaniard is almost level with VBA neck in the W2RC standings and even finished ahead of him in the Moroccan round, which doubled as a dress rehearsal before the Dakar. The Red Squadron has no shortage of talent, with Skyler Howes and Pablo Quintanilla also among the serious contenders for the crown awarded in Shubaytah. 
    There has been quite a shake-up in the KTM universe, with all four factory riders now united under the RedBull KTM Factory Racing banner. The main consequence of this reunion is that the Benavides Bros. are back together, although their current form is hard to gauge: Kevin, a two-time Dakar winner (2021 and 2023), took a nasty tumble while building up to the Desafío Ruta 40, while his younger brother, Luciano, crashed during that same event but managed to bounce back in time to bag third place at the Rallye du Maroc. The Austrian manufacturer’s most bankable asset may well be found Down Under with Daniel Sanders, who has put his youthful impetuosity behind him and dominated the Rallye du Maroc with a steady hand. Finally, the team manager, Jordi Viladoms, was unable to resist the temptation to pluck the brightest prospect from the Catalan hotbed without delay: Edgar Canet, spotted by Nani Roma when he was just 10 years old, clinched seventh place in Morocco (second in Rally 2) at the tender age of 19 and is set to become the youngest factory rider in KTM’s Dakar history. 
    The Spanish wunderkind stands out as the clear favourite for top rookie honours and perhaps even the Rally 2 crown. The Indian Harith Noah won the class last January. Defending his title will be one of Sherco’s key objectives, though Lorenzo Santolino is eager to feature in the battle for the top 5. When it comes to the fight for victory and a podium spot in Rally 2, the contenders are lining up in droves. Romain Dumontier is switching to a Honda this time round, aiming to recapture the thrill of his 2023 triumph. Meanwhile, the lightning-fast South African Michael Docherty has shown glimpses of consistency, clinching third in Rally 2 in Morocco. Tobias Ebster has stepped out of the Original by Motul ranks to gun for a strong result in the class and Konrad Dąbrowski, just 24 years old and heading into his fourth Dakar, looks well-equipped to keep climbing the ladder. 
  • Dakar stars Sanz and Noah talk about grit ahead of gruelling 12-stage race

    Dakar stars Sanz and Noah talk about grit ahead of gruelling 12-stage race

    As the 2025 Dakar Rally draws near, the world’s top off-road racers are gearing up for the ultimate test on wheels. This legendary event, known for its grueling stages and unpredictable terrain, challenges competitors across cars, motorcycles, trucks, and quads to push their limits. Taking place from January 3–17 in Saudi Arabia, the 47th edition will see racers tackle 7,759 kilometers, including 12 timed special stages, from Bisha to Shubaytah.

    Among the standout competitors preparing for the rally are Spanish motorsport legend Laia Sanz and Indian breakout star Harith Noah, who are sharing their 10-step strategy to conquer the dunes. Their insights, grounded in years of experience and respect for the Dakar’s challenges, offer a roadmap to success in one of the toughest motorsport events in the world.

    Laia Sanz: A Legacy of Endurance and Excellence
    Laia Sanz boasts an unmatched record of completing all 14 Dakar editions she has entered, with a career-best ninth-place finish in 2015. A 14-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion, Sanz has successfully transitioned from motorcycles to cars, bringing her depth of experience and strategic approach to new heights.

    Laia Sanz poses for a portrait during the Spanish Red Bull Athlete Summit in Andorra, on January 31 2024. Photo by Gianfranco Tripodo for Red Bull Content Pool -For editorial use only

    Harith Noah: India’s Rising Star
    Harith Noah made history in 2024 as the fastest Indian in Dakar history, clinching the Rally2 title. His performance, which follows the trailblazing legacy of Indian motorsport icon CS Santosh, highlights Noah’s growing prominence on the global stage.

    The 2025 route in Saudi Arabia covers 7,759 kilometres spread over 12 timed special stages with the 47th edition beginning in Bisha on January 3 and finishing in Shubaytah on January 17.

    Here are Sanz and Noah’s 10 key steps to success at the Dakar Rally

    1. Preparation is Key
    Noah revealed his fitness a crucial component: “Last year, I worked on gaining a little extra weight to better adapt to the suspension on the bike, but after we figured out the suspension during Rallye du Maroc I’m not as concerned about gaining weight anymore. I’ve been to the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center several times this year, which has really helped me out.”

    2. Endurance Over Speed
    Twelve stages, which can last up to six hours at a time, mean you need to keep a positive mindset that focuses on endurance. Sanz explained: “The Dakar is a race, so it’s a bit strange that the winner can sometimes not win a stage. You need to be fast, but you also need to be smart. It’s such a complicated race, but I think that’s what makes it so special.”

    3. Rhythm is Everything
    With so many other vehicles racing around you over the ever present tricky terrain, focus and finding your own rhythm is key. Noah said: “I’m a really slow starter. It takes me about three days to start feeling comfortable on the bike and to perform properly. For example, at Rallye du Maroc this year I was completely exhausted after the first day. But by the second day I felt better and by the third day I felt like I could keep going for as many days as needed without getting tired.”

    4. Respect the Desert
    Never underestimate the desert – especially rookies – something that has been the backbone of Sanz’s success. She admitted: “My advice is never go over your limit. Rookies arrive super motivated, but they must remember to respect the desert. Be careful and, if one day you feel quite slow, then just relax and know that tomorrow will be a better day.”

    5. Minimize Distractions
    For many racers, creating a bubble around them is important to get as much out of the race as possible. Noah declared: “I don’t check the race results during the event. This was a decision I made with my psychologist and we agreed it’s the best approach for me. I also don’t use any social media during the race. Someone else manages it for me.”

    6. Use Experience Across Categories
    Switching up categories can often take you to the next Dakar level. Sanz added: “I did 11 on a bike, so I got so much experience in the dunes and you get to really understand the race. In my experience you can bring a lot of the strategies that work on bikes to racing cars at the Dakar.”

    7. Stay Present
    With each stage full of punishing kilometres, it is easy to let the mind drift. Noah recommended: “My focus is simple: ride one kilometre at a time. Just ride as well as I can. Whether I finish 30th, 10th, or anywhere else, I need to accept it. That’s my mantra: ride in the now. Don’t let what’s going to happen or what has already happened affect you.”

    8) Positivity is also key.
    Sanz said: “Even if you have a tough start and find yourself at the back you must stay positive. Wait for your moment. This is a race where so many things happen and you need to make sure you avoid any big mistakes. You will have bad stages, but you must keep going.”

    9. Age is Just a Number
    Age is not a barrier either as Dakar history is packed with older winners, even into their sixties. Sanz said: “Experience is important. It makes me happy to see Carlos Sainz still winning because it means that I still have time! I know Carlos and how much he trains to stay in shape to race. There’s so much hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

    10. Savor Every Moment
    Above all, relish each and every day however gruelling. Noah said: “First place in Rally2 was never part of the plan. Winning is obviously a huge achievement, but the most amazing part was standing on the Dakar podium and receiving that trophy. That was an unbelievable feeling.”

  • Harith Noah excels at Rallye du Maroc in preparation for Dakar 2025

    Harith Noah excels at Rallye du Maroc in preparation for Dakar 2025

    Ace Indian rider and Dakar class winner, Harith Noah of Kerala, who won the Rally2 class on Stage 4 yesterda, completed the rally and just finished outside the podium in the Rallye du Maroc on the final day.

    The Sherco TVS Rally Factory team rider had a difficult Day 1 but recovered with admirable navigation and riding skills in the new sections to push himself to the forefront.

    “It was fourth Overall and P1 in Rally2 class on Stage 4. It was almost a perfect day today, after 315 km, but just a few kilometers before the finish, I got lost and lost some time. Fortunately, Lorenzo Santolino, was there too and he found the right way and we rode to the finish together. The full stage was on fresh grounds which I enjoyed. Today was the first day I really felt good on the bike right from the start,” said Harith Noah after Stage 4.

    Key points:

    • In the cars, Nasser Al Attiyah took his seventh victory on the race. His team-mate Sébastien Loeb took second place today. The two stars hand the Dacia Sandrider a one-two finish for the brand’s first rally-raid outing. Guillaume de Mévius (X-raid Mini JCW) finished on the podium with his new team.
    • In the Challenger class, Eryk Goczal (Energylandia Taurus Factory) won ahead of his father Marek with Dania Akeel (BBR) completing the podium. In the SSV class, Yasir Seaidan (MMP) wins the race and the championship. In the truck class, Martin Macik (MM Technology) scored a full house, winning every day of racing! In SSV Open Maroc Telecom, Ali Oubassidi wins for the Africa Rallye Team.
    • In the RallyGP class, Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) won the race for the first time in his career ahead of Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda) and fellow KTM factory rider Luciano Benavides. Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports) becomes 2024 World Champion.
    • In Rally2, Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) repeated last year’s win and also took the World Cup for the category. In Rally3 Enduro Cup Afriquia, Souleymane Addahri (Africa Rallye Team) won by a landslide. In the quad category, Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMoto Thunder) won by a whisker.

    ON TRACK
    The final stage, a loop around Mengoub/Bouârfa, comprising of 273 kilometres of special stages finished just outside the bivouac (see Radio bivouac).

    In the RallyGP category, Daniel Sanders won after a fierce battle with Tosha Schareina (+11’07’’). Luciano Benavides, back from his femur injury sustained in Argentina last June, took the final podium spot after a very solid performance (+21’03‘’). The two KTM factory riders, who arrived in Marrakech on a machine with a revamped chassis, left the rally having sent a clear message to their rivals for next January: the orange bike is ready to race. For ‘Chucky’, who won at his second attempt at the race, it was a good way of putting his past injuries behind him (see Quotes) and to succeed Toby Price (see Stat of the day).
    Winner of stage 1 and sixth overall, Ross Branch was able to let his delight at becoming W2RC world champion explode at the end of the series’ five rounds.

    In Rally2, Bradley Cox rode at RallyGP pace all week. The South African repeated last year’s Moroccan title and snatched victory in the Rally2 World Cup after a hard-fought season with Romain Dumontier (Honda Team). The Frenchman discovered a new machine this week. The BAS World KTM Racing team was on top form, with three of its riders finishing on the podium in the category, with young Edgar Canet and Michael Docherty flanking Alfie Cox‘s son. Harith Noah (Sherco TVS Rally Factory), winner of the category on the Dakar, finished just off the podium.

    In the Rally3 Enduro Cup Afriquia, Souleymane Addahri produced the masterpiece that ART had been hoping for! Hats off to the Agadir-based rider, who scored a hat-trick for the Africa Rallye Team, the continental rider training programme supported by the Rallye du Maroc’s main partners, which has dominated the category since its inception in 2022.

    In the quad category, Antanas Kanopkinas and Kamil Wisniewski (Orlen) battled it out throughout the week, with the Lithuanian coming out on top today.

    In the car category, Nasser Al Attiyah debuted his Dacia in the best possible way. The Qatari increased his record of victories on the Rallye du Maroc to seven and while taking his third world championship title (see Quotes).Sébastien Loeb (The Dacia Sandriders) won the day’s stage, having already won the day before, overtaking the Mini of Guillaume de Mévius (see Quotes). The Frenchman finished 5’10’ behind his team-mate. Dacia scores a remarkable one-two finish for their competition debut.
    Held up today by a stop-and-go out on the track, the Belgian finally finished third at 13’45’. This week, the man from Namur rediscovered the superb form of last January. His team-mate Guerlain Chicherit, who had been in the running all week, suffered his first blow today. The Frenchman lost out on the fourth place he’d been aiming at. Despite this, the two new Mini crews also proved that they were up to the job on their first outing. It was a similar story for Ford M-Sport. Carlos Sainz, competing in the Experimental category, scored one win, four podiums and a fifth place today. ‘ El Matador ‘ is ready to enter the arena next January (see Quotes).
    Toyota took fourth place with Yazeed Al Rajhi (+23’30‘’). The Saudi driver (Overdrive Racing) retains his runner-up spot in the world championship. Seth Quintero (Toyota Gazoo Racing) rounded off the Top 5 (+29’31‘’).

    In the Challenger class, the Goczal family made a spectacular return to competition. Between them, the Polish trio won every day  since Marrakech. At the finish, Eryk was ahead of his father Marek (+9’51‘’). Michal is not on the podium following his DNF yesterday. Dania Akeel took third place in the race, reflecting her rise to prominence over the season.

    In SSV, the new Maverick Rs of the Can-Am Factory team and Manuel Andujar (South Racing) entered in the Experimental category were quick the whole week. Overall it is Yasir Seaidan who wins the race and the world cup. Alexandre Pinto (Old Friends Rally) finishes behind the Saudi driver and wins the Road to Dakar Challenge.
    In the SSV Open Maroc Telecom, Bartlomiej Kotwica (PBI Rally) and Ali Oubassidi each won three days. In the end, it was the Moroccan and his compatriot co-driver who scored a double coup for the Africa Rallye Team, who’d already won the Rally3 Enduro Cup Afriquia bike category. Great result for the ART class of 2024!


    In the truck category, Martin Macik won 6 out of 6! The Czech has won every special stage since Marrakech. His team-mate Kees Koolen came close to taking today off him… Overall Macik finished nearly an hour ahead of the Dutchman.

    RADIO BIVOUAC :
    As last year, the finish of the race was situated at the entrance of the bivouac. An innovation tested last year in Merzouga and repeated today in Mengoub/Bouârfa to allow competitors’  teams and their families to share this highlight of the race. The wife and father of Ross Branch, the RallyGP world champion, were able to kiss their Hero was he climbed off his bike! A leader in technological innovations, as was the case this week with the digital road book for 100% of the caravan, the Rallye du Maroc is also a pioneer when it comes to emotions.

    STAT OF THE DAY: 17 and 10
    Daniel Sanders became the 15th FIM motorcyclist to win the race, which was created in 2000. He is the 2nd Australian to achieve this feat after Toby Price. The last of his predecessor’s 3 victories came in 2023. ‘Chucky’ has now put Australia and KTM at the top of the results table for two consecutive years. The Orange team take their 17th victory.
    By winning his 7th Moroccan FIA crown, Nasser Al Attiyah equalled the record of success set by navigator Mathieu Baumel, with whom he had won all his previous races. The Frenchman won before the Qatari, in 2011 with Bernhard Ten Brinke. Nasser also won with a3rd different brand, after Mini and Toyota. He adds Dacia to the Rallye du Maroc Hall of Fame, the 10th brand to win in the Kingdom of Morocco.

    26th EDITION: RENDEZ-VOUS FROM 10 TO 17 OCTOBER 2025
    For the 17th time in its history, the Rally du Maroc 2025 will be a round of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship. It has been the final round of the calendar since 2013, the only exception being 2022 when the Andalucía Rally was postponed. Morocco will be the bike riders final for the 11th time and the3rd consecutive time for the FIM and FIA international caravan, united by the W2RC since 2022.

    QUOTES :

    Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing): “It feels good. It’s been a long time since my last win and a lot has happened since then. I’m really happy to be back on top, to have the speed and a bike that is working well. It’s a really good thing before the Dakar. This race has everything going for it. They  just keep improving it. The terrain here is unreal. Due to injuries, first the elbow and then the femur, I missed two Rallye du Maroc in a row. To come back after a difficult Dakar and Argentina is great. Hats off to the team for the quality of the bike.”

    Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing): “What a day! I didn’t think it would be possible when I came here. Romain (Dumontier) has been very strong all year. This week has been a dream. When I was a kid, I wrote in my school book: ‘one day, I’ll be world champion’ and I’ve made that dream come true today. It wasn’t an easy day. I crashed in the liaison and slid down the tarmac, then I had another big crash in the special stage. A big thank you to the team, the sponsors and all those who make it happen. Let’s hope 2025 will be as good a year!”

    Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders): “It’s great to win the Rallye du Maroc seven times and also the World Championship for a third time. And of course, I’m very happy to be winning for Dacia for the first time. It hasn’t been an easy year for us after we withdrew from the Dakar. Now, with the new car, we’re looking forward to the 2025 Dakar.”

    Sébastien Loeb (The Dacia Sandriders) : “Overall, it has been a good rally. We finished first and second with Dacia, which shows that the car is really competitive and reliable. We broke a wishbone and a steering arm and it’s important to do a rally like this to see what breaks and what we need to improve for the Dakar. Of course, there are a few things we need to sort out, but overall, we’re very happy with the car. The battle is very close between the different cars, so I think it will be interesting for the Dakar.”

    Guillaume de Mévius (X-raid Mini JCW): “For our first race with X-raid, we can be satisfied. We lost some time today and second place, but we’re still on the podium, so we’re very happy. For the Dakar, we’ll have the petrol engine and a few other improvements. From what we’ve seen this week, we should be ready to fight in January. We didn’t know that before we came here, so we’re very happy with the way things have gone.”

    Carlos Sainz (Ford M-Sport): “Overall, I’m very satisfied. A completely new car, a new team, I’m happy. We have good speed. Apart from one day, the car worked well. It’s very emotional to win a stage with a new car. The Dakar is going to be interesting because Ford, Dacia, Mini and Toyota are all very close.”

  • Despite a fall on Day 4 and an injured wrist, Harith Noah completes BP Rally

    Despite a fall on Day 4 and an injured wrist, Harith Noah completes BP Rally

    Portugal, 7 April 2024: From April 2 to 7, 2024, the riders of Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team completed in their first post-Dakar race, the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in Portugal.

    Lorenzo Santolino started the event well and placed 2nd in the first stage. The following days, he once again demonstrated his ability to fight with the fastest riders in the World Rally Raid Championship, but was stopped in his progress by a big fall at 130 km/h on the last day. , because of a root hidden under the sand. He comes out of it with just some aches and pain, no broken bones.

    Our rider from India, Harith Noah, the winner of the Dakar Rally 2 category, was penalized because of some racing incidents, small riding and navigation errors, but he is satisfied with his performance.

    Harith Noah :

    “This rally was a good experience to return to competition after the Dakar. The conditions were difficult and different, there was a lot of humidity, and it was cold. A racing incident during the second stage penalized me and caused me to lose time. I left motivated on the 3rd day and I gave everything, but a fall on the 4th day caused me to have pain in my wrist and on the last day, I just rode to finish the race, without taking any risks since I  was now too far behind in the provisional ranking. I learned a lot from this event and gained new experiences. We learn from each experience. The bike performed very well. Now I will focus on training and be ready for the next race.”

  • Harith Noah suffers setback on Day 2: BP Ultimate Portugal rally

    Harith Noah suffers setback on Day 2: BP Ultimate Portugal rally

    Grandola (Portugal), 4April 2024:  Ace Indian rider Harith Noah, a product of TVS Racing, suffered a set back in his campaign on Day 2 in the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal as he could not complete Special Section 2 due to technical issues.

    “Stage 2 ended around 40km something for me due to a technical issue. Was not able to make it to the finish of the stage,” said Harith Noah after the end of Day 2 in the maiden Portugal race, the first after Dakar, where he won Rally2 class. Due to some technical infringement, he was penalised and it pushed to the the back. “It was good learning experience. I made some mistake and then lost a lot of time,” he said later, through a Sherco release.

    The other Indian in the fray, Jatin Jain also completed the day.

  • Harith Noah overcomes a nasty fall to finish P12

    Harith Noah overcomes a nasty fall to finish P12

    Grandola (Portugal), 3 April 2024: Ace Indian rider and Dakar 2024 Rally2 winner, Harith Noah of Kerala, managed a tough day and overcame a nasty fall to finish Day 1 in the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal stage 1 successfully on Wednesday. Despite the fall and a technical issue, the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team rider finished overall 12th and 5th in Rally2 class.

    “A technical problem in the prologue followed by a crash in stage 1, but I am healthy and ready for tomorrow. Although in terms of km it wasn’t much, it felt like a long day separated into the prologue, first part of stage 1 and second part. A lot of water puddle and very wet areas made it difficult. Learned a lot and feel a little more calm for tomorrow…,” said Noah after the 100km first stage.

    Jatin Jain the other Indian also completed the tough Day 1 after he struggled with his bike and finished Overall 55 and P32 in Rally2 class.

    After setting the fastest time in the morning Prologue, Tosha Schareina (Honda) claimed victory in the inaugural stage of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, just ahead of compatriot Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco). António Maio (Yamaha) will head into the second day as the leading Portuguese contender.

    Tosha Schairena leads Day 1
    Tosha Schairena, a rider for Honda’s official team led by Ruben Faria, made a triumphant return to competition and kicked off the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal in stellar fashion. The Valencia-based rider admitted, “The start was quite tough, with the sandy sections where I encountered quite a few difficulties. Then, the terrain hardened, and I pushed harder. Despite some minor errors, overall things went well, and the strategy of starting further back proved to be correct.”

    Also familiar with the course characteristics, compatriot Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) was one of the standouts of the day, finishing the stage in second position, just ahead of American Honda rider Skyler Howes.

    António Maio (Yamaha) showcased an impressive performance, being the fourth fastest of the stage and the best among the Portuguese riders, with the GNR (National Republican Guard) soldier stating, “The course was a bit different from what I was expecting, but it was enjoyable. I didn’t make any navigation errors, and it was important to finish the first day with good sensations.”

    Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) secured the fifth position, ahead of Sebastien Bühler (Hero). The Portuguese-German, residing in the village of Relíquias, approximately 80 km from Grândola, expressed satisfaction at the end of the first 100 timed kilometers: “I enjoyed the course quite a lot, and the only issue I had was having to backtrack two or three times to ‘fetch’ the waypoints. But it was a good stage to start.”

    Despite being the fastest in the stage, benefiting from experience on similar terrains around his hometown (Durban, South Africa), a penalty pushed Bradley Cox to seventh place. Nevertheless, the KTM rider emphasized, “I really enjoyed riding here. It’s tough but fun, even when we encountered a lot of mud.”

    Portuguese rider Bruno Santos (Husqvarna) finished eighth overall and first in the Rally2 class, while Argentine Manuel Andújar set the fastest time among the Quads, with a 6m39s advantage over Lithuanian Antanas Kanopkinas.

    A single selective sector contested south of Grândola, spanning 193.04 kilometers, is the challenge that teams face in tomorrow’s stage (Wednesday), the second of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. A course traversing the Alentejo cork oak forest, with some sandy sections.

  • Indians Harith Noah, Jatin Jain in fray; Hero Motosports’ Ross Branch leads RallyGP

    Indians Harith Noah, Jatin Jain in fray; Hero Motosports’ Ross Branch leads RallyGP

    Grandola (Portugal), 3 April 2024: Scrutineering for the inaugural edition of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal wound to a close in Grândola on Tuesday. The 55 vehicles in the W2RC field (out of 148 FIA/FIM vehicles in the race) were cleared to start the race on Wednesday morning.

    Among the 27 motorbikes and quads on the FIM start list, will be two Indians, Harith Noah of Sherco, the Rally2 class winner of 2024 Dakar and Jatin Jain, a Kove rider. Besides, the Indian manufacturer, Hero MotoSports, will have the leader of the Rally GP competition, Ross Branch, who will feel the heat from Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda), his closest pursuer at only 26 points back.

    Jatin Jain

    The popular Indian with the Supercross fraternity is a two-time National 2-wheeler rally champion in 2018 and 2019, and multiple times Supercross champion in different categories. Before this, he completed the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the second round of the W2RC on his Kove 450 Rally Pro. The Nagpur rider made his international debut in 2020 in the Hispania rally in Spain with a creditable fifth place in his class, and also took part in the Abu Dhabi Baja in 2023. But despite his best preparations, the privateer could not raise the sponsorship to take part in Dakar 2024.

    Among the 28 FIA crews in the W2RC, Carlos Sainz (Mini JCW) holds the championship lead by just 9 points over Nasser Al Attiyah (Nasser Racing by Prodrive) and 12 over Guerlain Chicherit (Overdrive Racing).

    Tomorrow, in a historic first for the W2RC, the prologue and stage 1 will be held on the same day, taking the competitors from Grândola to Santiago do Cacém and back. There will be live coverage of the finish.

    The list of 169 entrants in the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal includes competitors from 30 different nationalities, a fact that reveals the global nature of the Automóvel Club de Portugal event.

    As you might expect, the debut of the World Rally-Raid Championship in Portugal has attracted competitors from all over the world, who will be concentrating next week on Grândola and the trails of the Alentejo, Ribatejo and Spanish Extremadura.

    The impressive list of 169 entries for the car, motorcycle and quad races has competitors from 30 different countries: in addition to Portugal, also South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Czechia, Chile, Ecuador, Slovakia, Spain, United States of America, France, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Seychelles and Switzerland are represented.

    The pride of a nation

    In motorcycles, World Rally-Raid leader Ross Branch is one of Botswana’s rare representatives in motorsport at the highest level. Branch represents an Indian manufacturer, Hero, and bikers from that Asian giant are also starting to emerge, such as Harith Noah, an official Sherco rider, or Jatin Jain, who rides for a Chinese brand, Kove.

    The Sunshine After The Rain

    The route of the rally had to be tweaked due to the unseasonal rains that drenched its host regions last week, but its overall character remains very much the same. In the end, the FIM race will stretch for 1,735 km and its FIA counterpart for 1,866 km, with 1,039 km of specials for both. The start will be hectic!

    In a historic first for the W2RC, the prologue and stage 1 will be held on the same day. The first competitors will get the prologue going just 15 minutes after the sun peeks over the horizon. After that, they will set out to tame the 100 km special 1 before noon. The entire field will be brought together shortly before the finish line to provide live coverage of the last 3 km. The final sprint will be broadcast for the first time on Sport TV, the broadcaster of the premier sports events held in Portugal. Live footage with expert commentary will also be streamed on W2RC social media for the rest of the world. Tune in tomorrow at 3:25 pm (UTC+1) for the motorbike finish and 5 pm (UTC+1) for the car finish on YouTube W2RC or Facebook W2RC pages.

  • Harith Noah leads Rally2 general ranking; logs overall P11: Dakar Stage 11

    Harith Noah leads Rally2 general ranking; logs overall P11: Dakar Stage 11

    Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), 18 January 2024: The 30-year old from Kerala, Harith Noah continued his good run at the mighty Dakar 2024 and managed to escalate his position to the top of the table in the overall general rankings of the Rally2 class with a splendid Stage 11 parformance in one of the most-demanding stages near to the end of this edition of the Dakar on Thursday. The riders took over part of the 2023 route with the same very rocky course that was very complicated and prone to causing punctures.

    The top rider from India was cautious. After the stage, Harith Noah said: “I knew it would be a tough day with very rocky and difficult trails. I felt pretty good at first but once we started entering the rocks, I had two small falls. I tried to concentrate on navigation and stayed on two wheels for the rest of the stage. The race is not finished yet, there is still one more stage left tomorrow.”

    Today’s course represented the most demanding sporting challenge of the second week of the race and was likely to disrupt the rankings in all categories. Spanning more than 400 kilometers, the special took place mainly on hostile and challenging terrain. This is the last physical challenge to overcome.

    Harith Noah continued his momentum with another victory in Rally 2 and a eleventh place overall. He thus gained time over his closest competitor R. Dumontier, he now leads the Rally 2 standings.

    At kilometer 12, his teammate Rui Goncalves fell, resulting in a deep injury to his left arm. After seeking medical assistance from the organization, he was quickly transferred to Alula Hospital. An intervention surgery was essential to treat his wound, and he remains under observation tonight. No Noah is the only Sherco rider left in the field.

    Harith Noah is the last rider still in the race for the Indo/French outfit. He is currently in 11th position in the general classification. Tomorrow marks the final stretch to hope for a TOP 10 finish!

    Stage 11 ranking
    Harith Noah: P11
    Rui Gonçalves: DNF

    Provisional general classification
    Harith Noah: P11
    Rui Gonçalves: DNF

    Tomorrow, is the last day of the 2024 Dakar, the riders will set off for 328 km including 175 km of special and 153 km of connection with an arrival in Yanbu.