Known throughout the highest level of motorcycle off-road racing as one of the, if not the best navigators in the business, veteran – as in eight Dakar Rallies – racer Jose Ignacio Cornejo, or better known as “Nacho,” has taken his speed and experience to the new India-based Hero Motosports Team Rally program, backed by Monster Energy. The former Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally racer (since ’22) brings with him to Hero not only experience to the team that features Ross Branch, Joan Barreda Bort and Sebastian Buhler, but also an affable personality and ‘can do’ attitude that’s as helpful as it is heartwarming. Nacho’s Dakar Rally nearly flared out as fast as it, barely, started. The Chilean tells the story of how he just couldn’t pull the money together to make his first Dakar, in 2018. More or less crushed, a then magical phone call from Monster Energy/Honda HRC would elevate Nacho’s spirits as he was brought in to replace the injured Honda team rider Paulo Goncalves. A top ten (10th) finish would ensue, in his very first Dakar Rally. The following season (’19) Nacho would improve upon that finish, placing 8th – which lifted the “replacement” title and gave Nacho full factory backing. 2020 would see Nacho lock down his first – and second (coming in the final stage) – Dakar stage victories, marking, and certifying, the arrival of Nacho to the top of the world’s premier off-road podium. Following a tough crash, while leading the event, he crashed on Stage 10 and was forced by the medical team to end his run for the title. Undaunted, Nacho returned in 2022 and rallied back to a career-best 6th place Dakar finish, helping Honda win the Constructors’ Title. Another top ten (8th) finish in 2023, Nacho’s 2024 Dakar Rally was his best yet, scoring three stage victories enroute to a 6th place overall finish and another Constructors’ Title. Hero Motosports offers Nacho a new look at the World Rally-Raid Championship. From the sands of Dakar to the finals in Morrocco, the Hero 450 Rally motorcycle and Nacho will no doubt make for an excellent combination as he works with Branch to chase the upcoming WRRC titles.