Sam Sunderland to attempt to ride around the world in just 19 days
Sam Sunderland will be trying to ride 1,000 miles per day on his Triumph Tiger 1200, meaning he can complete the trip in record time.
The newly signed Red Bull Romaniacs rider, Sam Sunderland, is setting his sights on a new kind of challenge this summer, as he sets out on a very special round-the-world trip.
But, in true Sam Sunderland style, he’s not taking things easy, as the two-time Dakar winner will be trying to break a Guinness World Record by circumnavigating the globe in just 19 days.
The current record, which stands at 19 days, 8 hours, and 25 minutes, was achieved by Kevin Sanders and Julia Sanders in 2002. For that trip, the pair rode a BMW R1150 GS, but for this trip, Sunderland is opting for a Triumph Tiger 1200.
Should Sunderland make his target of 19 days, he’ll be riding an estimated 1,000 miles per day - roughly equivalent to the length of the UK - and any kind of breakdown could seriously hamper his chances.
Sunderland’s journey will start in England, before he rides into mainland Europe, onwards to Turkey, then to the Middle East, riding some 1,200 miles from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Speaking to Red Bull about his attempt, Sunderland said:
“I know this challenge will test me to the core – physically and mentally … But that’s exactly why I’m doing it. I thrive on the unknown – figuring things out as I go. I’m not here to just edge past the record. I want to set a new bar, one that makes the next person really earn it, just like I have to now.”
Speaking about his journey, Triumph Motorcycles’ Chief Commercial Officer Paul Stroud said:
“This is a hugely challenging undertaking for Sam and the Red Bull team, who are attempting to beat a record that has remained unbroken for more than twenty years. Sam’s determination and focus will be well matched by the performance and capability of the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, which is the ideal ride for such an epic adventure. We wish him every success as he travels across the globe.”
You may like to read our Triumph Tiger 1200 review
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
