David Braceras was a star in the Spanish Motocross Championship, winning the MX2 title twice before going on to compete in the FIM Motocross World Championship. However, the 23-year-old now sets his sights on the Dakar Rally.

After an impressive showing in his maiden cross-country rally at the Baja Aragón, Hero MotoSports announced Friday that he has been signed to a development deal. This gives him factory support as he dives deeper into the world of rally raids.

Bracera finished 18th in the 2025 Motocross World Championship’s MX2 standings, finishing fourth in the season opener before his season was hampered by injuries. He only did two races in 2026 without a stable ride in the World or Spanish championships.

With few options, he decided to try out rallies. He made his debut at the Baja Aragón in September, impresisng right out of the gate on his Honda CRF450RX as he beat Lorenzo Santolino for the Prologue win. Braceras was runner-up to Santolino the next day before crashing on the last leg and breaking his collarbone, forcing him to retire.

Despite the disappointment, the experience only convinced him to commit to the new discipline full time. Hero was happy to give him the chance.

Featured image credit: Frederik Herregods