Branch triumphs in tightly contested season
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday October 17, 2024 09:24
Local top biker, Ross Branch’s triumphant exploit at the just ended 2024 W2RC, is second least points in the championship all time rankings. On Friday, Branch etched his name in the halls of history as he became the first African competitor to clinch the World Championship title. The local lad needed just to complete the final round of the World Championship, Rallye du Maroc (Morocco Rally) to claim his first ever world title. His chances were boosted by the withdrawal of Ricky Brabec of the USA. Branch finished this year's championship with 88 points from five rounds but failed to squeeze inside the top five all time standings following a heavily contested season. He kicked off the W2RC on good gear as he attained his best ever finish, a second place in the World Championship first round, Dakar Rally. Branch ascended to the top of the championship rankings after yet another second place finish in the second round, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He maintained his place in the lead after two fifth place finishes at the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in Portugal and Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina.
His accumulated 88 points are just ahead of British Sam Sunderland's 85 points in his 2022 triumph. Sunderland, however, tops the all time standings with 110 points from the 2019 win. Meanwhile, Austrian, Matthias Walkner won with 90 points in 2015 and 105 in 2021, Pablo Quintanilla of Chile had 96 points for his triumphs in 2016 while a year later he won with 100 points. In 2023 Argentine, Luciano Benavides, secured the win with 100 points. Branch, however, has moved third since the inception of the Rally GP, a section for professional riders in 2022.
The 38-year-old made a significant improvement from 2023 W2RC’s fourth finish while he had finished 13th on his debut season in the world championship in 2022. It was a good season on the bike for Branch who over five rounds has accumulated 12 stage wins, his highest ever in three season in the world championship. He finished just behind Adrien van Beveren who has 14 stage wins, the most in this season. Branch’s factory team, Hero Motorsport, is beaming with confidence after securing its first ever individual champion in Branch but missed the top sport in team standings, as they finished second to Honda. It was also good outing for regional bikers with South African Bradley Cox winning the Rally 2, a section for first timers and amateur bikers.