Motorcycling adventurer Nick Sanders awarded an MBE

Globe-trotting adventurer Nick Sanders has been given official recognition in the Queen’s birthday honours list with the award of an MBE for his services to ‘endurance cycling and motorcycling.’

Nick, whose achievements include circumnavigating the world no less than nine times and who has covered nearly 1,000,000kms in the process, has inspired a whole generation of motorcyclists with his unique approach to overland travel.

“I never thought that this kind of thing happened to people like me,” says Nick. “I always thought that others deserve it more, like my own heroes. People like Joey Dunlop, Foggy and McGuinness. I’m really emotional about it.”

“At the very beginning, when I was very young, I wanted to be the best in the world at something. I just didn’t know what and spent the next 40 years trying to get there. It’s up to other people to decide if I’ve made it or not, it’s not something that I’ll ever really know.”

“This recognition says a big thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the years, all the fans I’ve got and of course my sponsors. One special thank you I’d like to make is to Jeff Turner at Yamaha for the unbelievable emotional support he has always shown me.

“Support from Continental, Touratech and Squire also make it possible for me to do what I do, and that in turn makes it possible for me to inspire other people to do it, too.

“Everyone knows that only the people at the top of bike sport get the money and the fame, but that’s not why they do it – they do it because they love it. That passion is the same with people who adventure. I’ve spent 20 years trying to lead the way with new ideas. Someone once said to me, whatever you do, don’t bore your audience – well, I’ll keep trying not to!”

Nick’s Highlights

• 1981 Cycled around the world in 138 days
• 1985 Cycled around the world in 79 days
• 2005 rode around the world in 19 days 4hrs on a Yamaha R1
• 2012 Rode the length of the Americas in 21 days 8 hours
• Has ridden the length of the Americas 8 times
• Has ridden round the world 7 times

More from MCN

• My life in bikes: Nick Sanders
• Nick Sanders: Riding around the world in 19 days
• How to ride your motorbike off road