Two-time Dakar Rally Champion Sam Sunderland to attempt fastest circumnavigation of the world on a motorcycle crossing 15 countries, enter five continents, and 13 time zones for 19 days to beat the current record.

We know that Dakar riders have extraordinary powers of stamina and willpower. Some of the racing days to soak up, often stacked back-to-back, are unbelievable when you compare them to your own reality and think about it back home – try it sometime.

Sam Sunderland will need all of that mental and physical stamina to sit on a bike and cover huge distances as he attempts to become the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe on a motorcycle.

The British rider has set his sights on breaking the current record of 19 days, 8 hours, and 25 minutes set in 2002. To reach his goal, Sam will need to ride the equivalent of the length of the UK every single day – averaging nearly 1,000 miles daily for 19 days.

This comes on the back of the announcement that Sam, and Jonny Walker, will ride the Red Bull Romaniacs new Adventure bike classes: Romaniacs 2025: Jonny Walker and Sam Sunderland to race Adventure bikes

Fact alert: the world record for riding around the world has previously been set by Kevin and Julia Sanders who in 2002, clocked 19,461 miles (31,319 km) in 19 days 8 hours and 25 minutes, two-up on a BMW 1200 GS. A serial record setter, Nick Sanders (no relation) has also circumnavigated the planet in 2005, beating Kev and Julia by just four hours, but not officially a world record (we think).

Start and finish in London

Sunderland’s journey will start and finish in London, UK, where Britain’s only Dakar winner aiming to create a legacy that extends beyond his rally career and inspire people.

“I know this challenge will test me to the core – physically and mentally,” says Sam who will need to ride for double the daily mileage of the average Dakar, and for an extra seven days. “There’ll be days when I’m out there for 15 or 16 hours in the cold and rain, heat and humidity, fighting the wind, battling exhaustion, and the mental fatigue. This, plus jetlag, and crazy time zones – it’s going to be brutal.” Sam is expected to cross 13 different time zones during his journey.

“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.”

Sunderland’s journey begins in his homeland of England heading into mainland Europe to Turkey, then head into the heart of the Middle East, riding some 1,200 miles from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.

After a long-haul transfer, the expedition continues through the remote outback of Australia and the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. From there, he’ll head north to tackle the USA and Canada. His path then leads to Morocco, his gateway into Africa, before looping back into Europe through southern Spain and finally making his sprint home to the UK.

An epic feat, Sam’s challenge will stay true to the parameters of the record set 20 years ago. Per these conditions, the time he’s trying to beat excludes ocean crossings, during which the official clock is paused.

Rules state Sam’s journey must be continuous and follow a single direction around the globe. He must start and finish at the same location, touch two antipodal points (locations on earth that are diametrically opposed to one another), and cover a minimum of 18,000 miles. All this he must do on the same bike – a Triumph 1200 Rally Explorer.

The record Sam is challenging was set by Britons Kevin and Julia Sanders, who hold the official Guinness World Records adjudicated title. Of the feat, Kevin Sanders said: “Records are meant to be broken. We did this more than twenty years ago – Sam’s going to face a whole set of new challenges compared to back then.” The Sanders’ have supported Sam’s feat by providing insight into their record-breaking journey, and the parameters required to make a true circumnavigation. “As people with a business within the motorcycle community, it’s always exciting to see riders take on new challenges, or challenge old ones! We’re really keen to see how Sam does.”