Ross Branch (motorcyclist)

Ross Branch
Personal information
Birth nameRoss Branch
NicknameKalahari Ferrari[1]
NationalityBotswana
Born (1986-05-06) 6 May 1986 (age 38)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight79 kg (174 lb)
Spouse
Aimee Leigh Branch
​
(m. 2017)​
Websitewww.rossbranch.co.bw
Sport
Country Botswana
SportOff-Road Motorcycle Racing
TeamHero Motorsports Rally Team
Achievements and titles
World finals
  • 2019 2nd place Merzouga Rally, Morocco
  • Winner Rookie category at 2019 Dakar Rally, Peru
  • Winner of the Torgau 24-hour Endurance race 2005 (Germany)
  • Winner of the Southern Pokal Championship in 2003 (Germany)
  • 2nd place Russian Race Series in 2003 (Russia)
  • Scored world championship points in 4 MX GP’s
Regional finals
  • South African Overall and OR1 Cross Country champion in 2018
  • South African Overall and OR1 Cross Country champion in 2017
  • South African Overall and OR1 Cross Country champion in 2016
  • Winner of the Botswana 1000 Desert Race in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Red Bull Braveman Extreme Enduro Finisher 2016
  • Roof of Africa Gold Finisher 2011
National finals
  • Winner of the Khawa Dune Challenge in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 (Botswana)
  • Awarded South African colours for Motocross in 2004

Ross Branch (born 6 May 1986) is a motorcycle racer from Botswana.[2] He lives in Gaborone, Botswana, and he rode for the KTM Off-Road Racing Team until October 2018. He now races for the Hero MotorSports International Rally team. Branch is the first Dakar stage winner from Botswana, after taking the stage 2 victory at the Dakar Rally 2020.[3][4] Often considered as one of the best off-road motorcycle racers in the world, he is the current World Rally-Raid Champion.

Early life

Branch was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and his parents brought him to Jwaneng three days after he was born.[5][6] Branch's parents are Kevin Branch a former Debswana employee and Glenda Branch. Branch attended Krugersdorp High School in Gauteng.[7] Branch's love for speed and adrenaline started when he first witnessed the final stage of the 1992 Dakar Rally in Cape Town at just five years old. He started riding motorbikes at the age of ten. At 18 years old he was invited to ride on the South African colours for Motocross, giving him a taste of professional freestyle.

Career

2024: 2nd Dakar Rally, (Winner of Stage 1 and Stage 11)

2020: 21st Dakar Rally, (Winner of Stage 2)

2019: 13th Dakar Rally (Best Rookie) / 2nd Merzouga Rally / 9th Morocco Rally

2018: 1st, South African OR1 Cross Country Championship / 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race

2017: 1st, South African OR1 Cross Country Championship / 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race / 1st, Khawa Dune Challenge

2016: 1st, South African OR1 Cross Country Championship / 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race / 1st,  African Motorcycle Union Continental Motocross Championship / Finisher, Red Bull Braveman Extreme Enduro

2015: 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race / 1st, Khawa Dune Challenge

2014: 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race / 1st, Khawa Dune Challenge

2013: 1st, Khawa Dune Challenge

2012: 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race

2011: Gold finisher, Roof of Africa / 1st, Botswana 1000 Desert Race / 1st, African Motorcycle Union Continental Motocross Championship

Dakar Rally

Year Class Vehicle Position Stages won
2019 Motorbike Austria KTM 13th 0
2020 21st 1
2021 Japan Yamaha DNF 0
2022 DNF 0
2023 India Hero 26th 2
2024 2nd 2

Sponsorships

Personal life

Ross Branch has been together with Aimee Crewe-Brown since he was 20 years old and they married in 2017.[11] They have three Jack Russells.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "BOTSWANA'S 'KALAHARI FERRARI' BIKER, ROSS BRANCH, SCORED A HAT-TRICK OF DESERT WINS – Rallystar". Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Ross Branch readies for Dakar Rally". Daily News Botswana. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Profile of ROSS BRANCH - MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM - Dakar". www.dakar.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Ross Branch Continues Positive 2021 Dakar Rally Campaign - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Mmegi Online :: Rider, ross branch wants Botswana citizenship". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. ^ Reporter, Sunday Standard. "Ross branches off hurdles to ride to glory | Sunday Standard". Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. ^ "KHS former learner Ross Branch making his second Dakar a memorable one". Krugersdorp News. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Ross Branch - Monster Energy Yamaha Rally". www.yamaha-racing.com. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Andrew Short and Ross Branch confirmed by Yamaha Rally Official Team - Motorcycle Sports". motorcyclesports.net. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  10. ^ Release, Press (16 March 2020). "Monster Energy Yamaha Rally team sign Dakar stars". Dirtbike Rider. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  11. ^ DUBE, MQONDISI. "Mmegi Online :: From the Delta skies to conquering Dakar". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  12. ^ Freiberg, Kate; Homel, Ross; Branch, Sara (2014). "Parent Empowerment and Efficacy Measure". PsycTESTS Dataset. doi:10.1037/t61386-000. Retrieved 14 January 2021.