Ross Branch continues to demonstrate resilience, maturity and elite-level consistency as the 2026 Dakar Rally moves beyond its midpoint, with the experienced rally-raid star firmly entrenched inside the overall top ten after eight grueling stages.
Competing in his eighth Dakar Rally, Branch has once again underlined why longevity and discipline are as valuable as outright speed at the world’s toughest motorsport event. Reflecting on his campaign so far, the Hero MotoSports rider expressed satisfaction with both his pace and positioning despite early setbacks.
“The performance so far has been really good,” Branch said. “We were fighting for the top positions for the first week until I had some issues with the tyre, but we are still in the top ten so I’m super happy.”
After Stage 08, Branch sits 8th overall, having finished 11th on the stage, which was the longest special of Dakar 2026 at 483 kilometres against the clock. The stage, run back to Wadi ad-Dawasir, tested riders with fast plateaus, narrow canyons, constant navigation changes, and worsening conditions caused by sandstorms and poor visibility.
While teammate Nacho Cornejo delivered another measured ride, Branch faced a more chaotic day but once again prioritised survival over unnecessary risk.
Despite the physical and mental toll that Dakar inflicts, the Botswanan insists he is feeling stronger than ever at this stage of the rally.
“I feel super strong — probably the best I have felt at a Dakar,” Branch said. “I have been training really hard for this Dakar.”
That preparation has been evident throughout the rally. From a blistering 4th place in Stage 04 of the Marathon Refuge, where he finished just 16 seconds off the stage win, to carefully managing damage during the brutal Stage 05, Branch has balanced speed with mechanical preservation — a skill honed over years of Dakar experience.
The Marathon Refuge stages, run without team assistance, proved particularly punishing. A rear tyre issue and mousse failure forced Branch into survival mode, dropping him down the stage order but keeping his overall campaign alive.
Now deep into Dakar’s most unforgiving stretch, Branch says experience is shaping every decision he makes on the bike.
“I think the main lesson is not to push too hard and make mistakes,” he explained. “It’s super easy to have a big crash, so I’m trying to be really focused and not make too many mistakes.”
That measured approach has paid dividends. From 10th overall at the rest day, Branch has steadily climbed to 8th overall after Stage 08, maintaining contact with the leading group as Dakar 2026 enters its decisive phase.
The rally now moves into the second Marathon Refuge stage, featuring 418 kilometres of timed racing without team support, where both rider and machine will once again be pushed to their limits.
As Dakar grinds on, one thing is clear: Ross Branch is racing smart, racing strong, and positioning himself for another memorable finish on motorsport’s hardest stage set to end this Saturday.
