Sam Sunderland

Best result 1st 2017 2020 result DNF stage 5 Stage wins 7

Sunderland has been a Dakar front runner since 2014, becoming the first British rider to win the event when he triumphed in 2017. The 31-year old has never lacked speed, especially in the sand and also finished on the podium in 2019. His 2020 race ended on stage five while fighting for the win.

As a factory KTM rider he’s been part of the team that won Dakar for 17 consecutive years, but who were beaten last year by the HRC Rally team thanks to American rider Ricky Brabec.

“Yeah, loosing always sucks and especially when it’s been a 17-year streak for KTM!” said Sunderland. “Whoever does the best job wins the race and this year it wasn’t one of us, so we have been working really hard on things and are feeling confident going into the 2021 race,” says Sunderland. With so little opportunity to race in 2020 due to Covid-19, Sunderland recently completed a six-week training camp with the whole KTM team in Dubai. “We did a lot of navigation work in similar terrain to Dakar. Plus we have been working with the rear fuel tank and WP suspension guys to make some improvements there that are sure to help with the terrain we found in Saudi.

“I am not so happy with the new six tyre rule as I can’t understand the safety aspect there, doing the same race with less grip doesn’t seem to make sense so hopefully we don’t have any dramas from it. Expectation: “Of course once you have won your only goal is to repeat so of course I want to see the finish but on top of the box is the plan!”