South African Rally2 record holder Michael Docherty has signed to race for the Hero MotoSports Rally Team, the motorsport squad of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, Hero MotoCorp.

Following an impressive couple of seasons, Michael Docherty joins the Hero MotoSports Team Rally team as an official rider and will make his debut in Hero colours at the upcoming Desafío Ruta 40, the third round of the 2026 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) on May 24-29.

A proven force in the Rally2 category, Docherty holds the record for the highest number of stage wins – an outstanding 37 victories, placing him ahead of some of the category’s most successful names. His consistent performances have not only established him as a dominant Rally2 rider but also as one of the few competitors to secure stage wins in the overall FIM classification, ahead of RallyGP contenders – notably winning stage 10 at the 2025 Dakar outright.

“Joining Hero MotoSports marks a significant step in my career.” Says the South African. “Becoming a factory rider has been a long-term goal of mine and I’m proud to achieve it with a team that has already demonstrated its strength at the highest level. I’m grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me and excited to start this new chapter together. We share clear ambitions for the future and I’m fully committed to contributing to the team’s success.”

Michael Docherty’s W2RC statistics (Rally2):

- Best championship finish: 3rd (2025)

- Race wins: 1 (Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2025)

- Podiums: 6 (Dakar 2023 - 3rd, Rallye du Maroc 2024 - 2nd ; Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2025 - 1st ; South African Safari Rally 2025 - 3rd ; bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal - 3rd ; Rallye du Maroc 2025 - 2nd)

- Stage wins: 37 (Dakar x18 ; Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge x8 ; Rallye du Maroc x6 ; Desafío Ruta 40 x4 ; South African Safari Rally x1).

Born on July 29, 1994 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Docherty began his career in motocross, competing across South Africa, the United States, and later the United Arab Emirates, where he has been based since 2016. A three-time representative of South Africa at the prestigious Motocross of Nations, he transitioned into rally-raid in 2021, immediately making his mark by winning the Rally2 category at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in his debut appearance.

Since the inception of the W2RC in 2022, Docherty has steadily built his rally-raid career, competing for teams such as BAS World KTM and SRG Motorsports. His standout performances include a third-place finish in the 2025 Rally2 World Cup, further underlining his readiness to step up to the factory level.

Hero MotoSports Rally team say the signing strengthens its global talent pool and reinforces its long-term commitment to rally-raid. The partnership with Docherty is part of a focused programme aimed at building towards a strong campaign at the 2027 Dakar Rally.

Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “We are very excited to welcome Michael Docherty to become our next strong addition to Hero MotoSports Team Rally. His Rally career records speak for themselves, he always showed great speed, working ethic and dedication in his Rally2 career and we believe strongly we can build the next step together to become a top Rally GP contender. Looking forward to see him racing first time on our Hero 450 Rally at the Ruta 40.”

At 31, Docherty achieves a career milestone by becoming a factory rider – a dream he has pursued since entering the rally-raid world. His journey mirrors that of several top riders who have successfully transitioned from Rally2 to factory teams, and Hero MotoSports now provides the platform for his next step. 

Building on its historic World Championship victory with Ross Branch in 2024, Hero MotoSports Team Rally expanded into the highly competitive Rally2 category.

The team marked its Rally2 debut at the 2024 Desafío Ruta 40 with Peruvian rider Ramiro Barco Oliva, laying the foundation for its development programme. This was followed by signing Austrian rider Tobias Ebster, who delivered a landmark moment for the team by securing its first Rally2 stage victory at the final stage of the 2025 South African Safari Rally and a runner-up finish in the 2025 FIM Rally2 World Cup.

Photo Credit: Hero MotoSports