Some stories need a second attempt. Sam Sunderland’s is one of them: in July 2025 he announced he would try to break the record for the fastest round-the-world motorcycle journey, held since 2002. A back fracture sustained in training stopped him in his tracks. Now, fully recovered, he’s taking on the challenge again, with a new date set: September 2026.
Who is Sam Sunderland?
A British rider and two-time Dakar Rally champion, Sunderland is a brand ambassador for both Red Bull and Triumph Motorcycles. His record in the toughest off-road racing in the world makes him a serious contender for a challenge that combines physical endurance, logistics and long-distance riding skill.
A record that has stood for 20 years
The current record belongs to Kevin and Julia Sanders, a British couple who circumnavigated the globe on a motorcycle in 19 days, 8 hours and 25 minutes on a BMW R1150 GS back in 2002. Sunderland wants to beat that time riding a Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.
The plan: 29,000 km, 15 countries, 13 time zones
The route starts and ends in London, crossing five continents with up to 16 hours of riding a day in highly variable conditions: cold, rain, heat, humidity and wind, as Sunderland himself admits. Under Guinness World Records rules, only actual riding time counts: the flight or boat legs between continents don’t count toward the clock.
The bike: a nearly stock Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer
Sunderland will ride a nearly production-spec Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, fitted with Michelin Anakee Road tyres and equipped with recording gear to document the adventure, wrapped in a special livery featuring the Red Bull and Triumph colours. Paul Stroud, Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer, sums it up: “it’s the ideal bike for such an epic adventure.”
From injury to the starting line
The project was first announced in July 2025, but a back fracture sustained in training forced a postponement. Sunderland has since passed medical checks at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre and arrives in good shape, backed by a recent second-place finish at the Red Bull Romaniacs on a Tiger 900 Rally Pro — proof that the challenge is very much back on.
Why this matters to us at Gas&Fun
You don’t need to circle the globe to live the adventure spirit, but stories like this are a reminder of just how far a well-prepared adventure bike can take you. We’ll be following Sunderland’s attempt closely when it kicks off in September. If you enjoy this kind of challenge, you’ll find more stories like it on our blog de motociclismo trail y aventura.
Sources: SoyMotero, MotorcycleNews, Visordown, Adventure Bike Rider, Moto1Pro and EnduroMagazine. Photos: Triumph / Red Bull Content Pool.