Double Dakar winner Sunderland chasing round the world record
He has raced across Saudi deserts, been slowed by gun-toting soldiers in Morocco and stood alone at the pinnacle of Dubai's half-mile high Burj Khalifa, but says this latest adventure may top them all.
The bid, launched on Thursday, targets a record of 19 days, eight hours and 25 minutes set in 2002 by Kevin and Julia Sanders for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by motorcycle.
To beat the feat, which is no longer recognised by Guinness World Records because of the dangers involved, the 36-year-old will have to ride 1,000 miles every day and on public roads across Europe, Turkey and into the Middle East.
A flight will take him on to the Australian outback, New Zealand and the Americas. From there, he and the Triumph Tiger 1200 go to Morocco and loop back through Europe to Britain.
What could possibly go wrong?
"I don't think you can ride around the world and cover that many miles a day without having a few hiccups along the way," Sunderland told Reuters with a grin.
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"When I try and compare it to the Dakar it's going to be probably, in some sense, tougher. Not physically but mentally.
"In the Dakar you've got a heap of adrenaline, you're super focused, things are changing quite often which makes you have to react. And this is like: 'Right, those are your miles for the day, get them done'. It's more like a mental fatigue."
ONE DIRECTION
The target time excludes ocean crossings but the journey, starting in September, must go one way around the world and start and finish at the same location on the same machine.
Two antipodal points must be reached on a journey through more than 15 countries and 13 time zones. The Dakar rally covers 5,000 miles over two weeks.
"I was trying to put it into perspective for my mum the other day, and my mum lives in Poole in the south of England, and I was like 'Mum, it's like you driving up to Scotland and perhaps halfway back every day for 19 days'," said Sunderland.
"I'm on the bike for around 17 hours (a day). I set off at 5 a.m. and arrive around 10, 11 p.m. most nights. So definitely later into the day you feel that sort of mental fatigue setting in, and to stay focused and stimulated is not that easy.
"But at least I don't have dunes and mountains to deal with and other riders in the dust, and hopefully not getting lost either."
Dakar competitors, who now race entirely in Saudi Arabia, are also unlikely to get stopped for speeding or become delayed by traffic congestion.
"I need to behave, let's say, I need to follow the rules of the road and be a good boy with it," said Sunderland, who announced his retirement from professional racing last year.
Sunderland will have a support crew of six travelling behind by car, for security and assistance, but the Red Bull-backed rider expects to be well ahead.
He also hopes his bid will have a positive effect.
"In the news today, it's all sort of doom and gloom in the world, with all the wars going on," he said. "And I think it's quite nice to show people that you can still get out there and experience the world for what it really is." REUTERS
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