Dakar: ‘Crazy to even say it out loud’ for disbelieving winner Sunderland

British 2017 Dakar Rally winner Sam Sunderland says that he’s still in shock at the result of this year’s race, admitting that despite a strong lead for the second week of the race he’s been trying to avoid thinking about the possibility of success until today’s Buenos Aires finish.

Sunderland was almost unstoppable for the second week, taking a lead and managing the gap to his opposition – and trying not to consider the possibility of becoming the first ever Brit to win the race.

“It wasn’t until the last five kilometres that I even started to think that it might be possible. I’ve been trying to block it out, just trying to stay calm and not think about it. It isn’t easy, because you’re on the bike for fourteen hours a day every day, and thoughts start to creep in!

“It’s the first Dakar I finished – and I won it! It seems crazy even to spay that out loud, but I’m just really grateful now. It hasn’t really sunk in, although emotions kind of took over when I crossed the finish line. The last six days have been a big weight on my shoulders, but I feel incredible now. I owe a huge thank you to the team, though, because the bike has been fantastic for two weeks. And I’m really thankful to everyone who supports me – thank you, and we’ve finally managed to do it!”

However, coming as the second new winner in two years after Red Bull KTM teammate Toby Price took the win last year, Sunderland is adamant that despite the Australian’s broken leg early in this year’s race, the back-to-back wins for the duo signals the arrival of a new era for the race.

“When we saw Toby out of the race it was a big blow as he’s a close friend and we’re all really close – but it helped us to pull together and to be even stronger. And I think times have changed. There are a lot of fast guys and a lot of people who can win, and it’s now a case of the guy who makes the fewest mistakes and not necessarily the fastest guy who wins.”