Couple begin bid for Trans-American record

The current holders of the world record for riding round the world on a motorbike, at just 19 and a half days, have just set off on their latest record breaking attempt, riding the entire length of the Americas from North to South.

Kevin and Julia Sanders, from Cambridge, smashed the round the world record last year and now plan to set a new record of 37 days for riding from the most northerly point in Alaska to the most southerly point in Argentina, a total distance of over 16,000 kilometres (10,000miles).

The couple set off from the gates of the oil field in Dead Horse, on the Arctic Circle, at 8am local time on Monday, August 18. A usual day in the saddle will see them cover over 1000miles but roads that far north consist of mainly loose dirt and mud so the first day will take in just 650miles.

As well as contending with roads that are less than ideal they will also have to contend with herds of caribou, the occasional grizzly bear and temperatures well below freezing. To cope with the cold they will both be using BMW Savannah suits with heated vests and Kevin will have the added benefit of the heated grips on the BMW 1150GS.

Speaking on a satellite phone just before leaving on his mammoth trip, Sanders said: ” To qualify for the Guinness world record we have to get our location verified by two witnesses each day. So we’ve got the local Sheriff and the oil field security guards here to sign in and wave us off. It’s 650miles to our next stop at Delta Junction with herds of migrating animals zigzaging across the road but hopefully the communications will be a little better there. ”

Keep up-to-date on their record-breaking progress on motorcyclenews.com and post your messages of encouragement by following the link on the right.