DIRT NEWS
Quickly adjusting to the unpredictable Saudi
Arabian terrain, the 33-year-old from Botswana
won the event’s second stage, going on to
challenge for further wins and take four more
top-10 stage results, despite carrying an injury
throughout the event.
“Joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally
Official Team is a dream come true for me,
says Branch. “To become a part of an official
factory rally team is what I have been working
hard to achieve over the last few years. The
opportunity to work with a team that is focused
on both Dakar and the rally world championship
is amazing for me. I want to improve as a
racer and believe that I have the speed to get
improved results. Winning a stage at Dakar this
year was a huge boost for my confidence, now
98 KIWI RIDER
I have the support of Monster Energy Yamaha
I’m excited to see what I can achieve.
Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2019,
Ross completed the South American event in
13th overall in the motorcycle class and as the
event’s highest-finishing Rookie competitor.
He also finished as runner-up in the Merzouga
Rally and eighth in the Rally du Maroc in 2019.
Short and Branch were set to make their
competitive debut for the Monster Energy
Yamaha Rally Official Team at the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge.
However, with the opening event of the 2020
FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
postponed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus
outbreak, the new target is Rally Kazakhstan,
which runs from 24-29 May.