Sam Sunderland has officially launched his long‑anticipated attempt to break the world record for the fastest motorcycle to circumnavigate the globe, departing from Greenwich, London on September 5, 2026 aboard a Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. The project has been in motion for more than a year, but this is the first time the Dakar champion has actually rolled out of the start line.

In fact, that start comes after a significant setback. His original 2025 attempt never happened after he fractured vertebrae in a training crash, forcing him to postpone the ride and step away from other events such as Enduropale du Touquet. Now fully recovered, he’s taking on the challenge he announced last year, backed by Triumph and supported by a global logistics plan designed to keep him moving nearly nonstop for 19 days.

The record he’s chasing has stood since 2002, when Kevin and Julia Sanders completed their circumnavigation in 19 days, 8 hours, and 25 minutes. To beat it, Sunderland must cover more than 18,000 miles while maintaining a continuous direction of travel, reaching two antipodal points, and finishing where he started — all on the same motorcycle. He will need to average roughly 1,050 miles per day, often spending 17 hours in the saddle, with fatigue, weather, traffic, and time‑zone transitions all working against him. He describes the mental strain as one of the biggest challenges, noting that the accumulation of long days will be “tough” even for a rider accustomed to Dakar‑level endurance.

His route spans five continents and is broken into six massive legs. From London he heads to Istanbul via France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. From there the journey jumps to Southeast Asia for a Bangkok‑to‑Kuala Lumpur run, followed by a full Australian crossing from Perth to Sydney. New Zealand comes next, then a coast‑to‑coast push across Canada from Vancouver to Montreal. The final leg takes him from Casablanca back to London through Spain and France. The variety of terrain and environments he’ll face — from the Australian outback to North American highways — underscores the scale of the challenge, with landmarks like the Bonneville Salt Flats adding to the sense of a true global ride.

For Sunderland, the attempt is as much about personal ambition as it is about the record itself. After the injury that halted last year’s departure, he says the project became a way to push himself beyond racing and embrace a different kind of adventure. “I’ve always been one for pushing myself… I love an adventure,” he explains, noting that most of his travel has been tied to competition, whereas this challenge gives him the chance to experience new cultures along the way. He frames the ride as a test of resilience as much as speed, emphasizing his belief that challenges are defined not by perfect conditions but by how you respond when things don’t go your way.

All eyes now turn to his progress as he pushes through the long miles ahead.