Rally2 record holder with 37 stage wins, Michael Docherty is taking a major step in his career by becoming an official Hero MotoSports rider. He will represent the team starting at the upcoming Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, the third round of the 2026 W2RC season.
One of Michael Docherty's dreams was to become a factory rally-raid rider, a discipline he has been competing in since 2021. At 31, the South African is finally achieving his goal by joining Hero MotoSports for the upcoming Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, scheduled for May 24-29 in the Argentinian desert. The Indian manufacturer is launching a program with MikeDoc designed to take them together to the 2027 Dakar Rally. This recruitment follows Docherty's performances in recent W2RC seasons, including his third-place finish in the 2025 Rally2 World Cup..
Rally2 category record holder
Born on July 29, 1994, in Johannesburg, Docherty initially competed in motocross, from his native South Africa to the United States, and later to the United Arab Emirates, where he has lived since 2016. He has represented his country three times at the Motocross of Nations. His rally-raid skills were evident from his very first race, the 2021 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which he won in the Rally2 category. MikeDoc took advantage of the creation of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in 2022 to build a career in the discipline, frequently racing for BAS World KTM or SRG Motorsports.
Having always competed in Rally2 throughout his career, Docherty is one of the few riders in the category to have won stages in the overall FIM standings, meaning ahead of professional RallyGP riders. His 37 Rally2 stage wins make him the category's record holder, ahead of Romain Dumontier (25) and Bradley Cox (23). The Frenchman and the South African both used Rally2 as a springboard to become factory riders – Dumontier with Honda and Cox with Sherco. It’s now MikeDoc’s turn with Hero.
"Joining Hero MotoSports marks a significant step in my career. 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", said Docherty.
Hero shows its strength
After winning the RallyGP World Championship with Ross Branch in 2024, Hero MotoSports is continuing its expansion into the Rally2 category. The team made its debut with Peruvian rider Ramiro Barco Oliva at the 2024 Desafío Ruta 40, before working with Austrian rider Tobias Ebster. Ebster delivered Hero MotoSports its first Rally2 stage victory by winning the final day of the 2025 South African Safari Rally, before finishing as runner-up in the championship. The Indian manufacturer now aims for even greater success with its new rider.
"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", added Wolfgang Fischer, Hero MotoSports Team Rally's Team Manager.
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).
