Hero MotoSports Team Rally delivered a strong performance in Stage 4 of the Rallye du Maroc, with Mike Docherty claiming his maiden Rally2 stage victory at the event. Nacho Cornejo also finished fifth in Rally GP, while Shlok Ghorpade was forced to retire after his motorcycle caught fire.
Docherty Takes Rally2 Stage Win
Docherty finished sixth overall in the stage, 8 min 25sec behind stage winner Daniel Sanders, but his result was enough to secure the Rally2 victory.
The win comes after three consecutive Rally2 podium finishes and moves Docherty into second place in the overall Rally2 standings heading into the final stage.
Cornejo Finishes Fifth Despite Wheel Issues
Nacho Cornejo continued his comeback with a fifth-place finish in Rally GP. He had to manage wheel spoke issues during the stage and rode cautiously after receiving assistance from fellow riders Tosha, Adrian and Ricky to tighten the spokes.
Cornejo now sits seventh overall in Rally GP and eighth overall in the provisional combined standings.
Ghorpade Retires After Bike Fire
Shlok Ghorpade’s rally ended after his motorcycle caught fire around the 200km mark. Earlier in the stage, Ghorpade had stopped to assist a crashed rider and remained with the medical team until the rider was evacuated.
He noticed a burning sensation on his leg and discovered the bike was on fire. Ghorpade immediately dismounted and escaped unharmed, although the motorcycle was destroyed.
The stage covered 318.8km, combining fast tracks, valleys, technical sandy sections, dunes and rocky terrain.
Final Stage Ahead
The final stage will feature another 259km challenge before the Rallye du Maroc concludes.
Provisional standings after Stage 4
- Rally GP: Nacho Cornejo – 7th overall
- Rally2: Mike Docherty – 2nd overall
- Rally2: Shlok Ghorpade – DNF
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Final Take
Hero MotoSports heads into the final stage with Docherty fighting for the Rally2 overall victory and Cornejo aiming to consolidate his Rally GP position. Ghorpade’s retirement ends his rally prematurely, but his decision to stop and assist a fellow competitor provided one of the day’s strongest displays of sportsmanship.
