NACHO CORNEJO TIGHTENS GRIP ON HIS 7TH OVERALL RANKING
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - Hero MotoCorp, has successfully completed the eleventh stage at the Dakar Rally 2025.
Continuing his consistent and stellar performance, Nacho Cornejo, who is currently leading the charge for the team, clocked the 5th fastest time in today’s stage. This impressive result solidiied the Chilean rider's grip on his 7th place in the overall standings, showcasing his grit and determination at the Dakar Rally 2025.
This result is a testament to Cornejo's strategic mindset and deliberate decision-making, as he opted to finish late yesterday in order to secure a favourable start position for today’s stage that took place in the empty quarter. Cornejo was running in the top-5 yesterday while clearing the 82 km mark.
Today's Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally 2025 faced a delayed start due to foggy weather conditions. Reduced visibility prevented helicopters from taking off, prompting organizers to postpone the start to 10:30 AM local time in the interest of competitors’ safety. Furthermore, to avoid riding in the dark, the stage was shortened to 152 km for FIM participants, down from the original 308 km of timed special.
The last major special of Dakar 2025 was the inal test in the breathtaking dunes of the Empty Quarter. The terrain which kept alternating between vast expanses of sandy dunes and treacherous salt lats, pushed competitors to their limits.
As the Dakar Rally 2025 draws to a close tomorrow, the leaderboards still remain open to changes, setting the stage for an action-packed and suspenseful conclusion. Hero MotoSports' Nacho Cornejo is well-positioned and looking forward to make it a commendable inish for the team as he feels increasingly in-sync with his bike stage-after-stage.
Tomorrow’s grand inale of the Dakar Rally 2025 is set to be a thrilling face-off, as competitors battle it out in the short but intense Stage 12. The stage will comprise a compact 61 km timed special, combined with a 70 km road section. Adding to the excitement, the unique mass start format will bring all competitors together at the starting line, and is expected to create an electrifying atmosphere.
The inal stage tomorrow promises a thrilling twist: a reverse start order, where riders will start in the opposite order of their current overall standings. The start lineup will feature rows of 15 riders, with a 10-minute gap separating each group. That said, in a nail-biting inale, the top 15 riders will start in the last, ensuring an electrifying conclusion to the rally.
Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: "We've wrapped up Stage 11, which got off to an unexpected start due to heavy fog in the morning. The delayed start resulted in the stage being shortened to half, but we made the most of it. I had a fantastic ride, feeling increasingly comfortable on the bike as the days are progressing. We secured a strong 5th place inish today. Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to the inal stage tomorrow. The mass start, motocross-style, will add an extra layer of excitement. It's time to bring our Hero home, and I'm determined to make it a good and memorable inish!"
Source: Hero Motosports Team Rally
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