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Sam SUNDERLAND

(gbr) 1.79m / 75kg

Hobbies

Cycling, free diving

Sponsors

Red Bull, GasGas, Airoh helmets, Oakley, USWE, Mototransport

Vehicle

Brand: GasGas
Model: 450 Rally Factory Replica
Performance tuner: GasGas Factory Team
Assistance: GasGas Factory Team
Class: Rally GP

Rankings

2022: 5th
2021: Ab.
2019: Ab.
2019: 9th
2017: Ab.
2016: 2nd
2015: 1st
2014: 2nd
2013: 5th
2012 : 10th

Other races
2019: Silk Way Rally (1st), Atamaca Rally (2nd)
2018: Atacama Rally (Ab.)
2017: Qatar Cross-Country Rally (1st), Atacama Rally (4th), Desafio Ruta 40 (10th)
2016: Qatar Cross-Country Rally (1st)
2014: Qatar Cross-Country Rally (Ab.), Rally Dos Sertoes (6th)
2013: Merzouga Rally (1st)
2012: Sardinia Rally (13th)
2011: Australasian Safari (Ab., three stage wins)

Faultless run

After six Dakars with the KTM factory team, including a win in 2017, in 2022 Sunderland moved to sister brand GasGas to race alongside the young Australian star Daniel Sanders. A fantastic image boost for the Austrian group’s latest acquisition, which topped the overall rankings for no less than ten of the twelve stages on the 44th edition! Twice with Sanders, eight times thanks to the Brit! Consistency that Sam hasn’t always displayed since deciding to switch from moto-x to rally-raid at the age of 19, following a visit to his aunt and uncle living out in Dubai. Once installed in the United Arab Emirates full time to pursue his new passion he grabbed everyone’s attention at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge by winning two stages as an amateur. He made his Dakar debut in 2012 and signed with Honda before switching to KTM in 2014. In addition to his 2017 Dakar win, Sunderland won the FIM world championship in 2019. A look at ‘Sundersam’s’ statistics makes for interesting reading. When he doesn't DNF, which he has done five times in nine Dakars for example, he is always on the podium. In the dunes, he is recognised as one of the best, no doubt in part thanks to his formative years in the Emirates. He proved it again during the second round of the W2RC by winning the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge for the third time in his career. Combine that with his Dakar triumph and Sunderland now has a 17-point lead in the championship over his closest rival Pablo Quintanilla. A comfortable position going into the Rallye du Maroc. But unlike for the second round, Sam won’t be favourite in Morocco. He had to pull out on the last 2 editions while his closest rival took the win in 2021. The GasGas rider will however be able to count on his experience racing on the Rallye du Maroc an event he has entered no less than 9 times. In Morocco ‘Sundersam’ has got on the podium 3 times, winning once in 2015.

Ranking 2022

Total
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