Sam Sunderland has been one of the benchmark riders in the raids over the last decade. Making his professional debut 12 years ago, the Briton has since been fighting for victory in every raid he has participated in, to achieve an extraordinary record. But now the time has come for him to retire as a professional, something he has announced in a statement and is doing so immediately.
We are used to seeing retirement announcements at the end of the season, but in this case Sam Sunderland is getting off the bike immediately. In his career he has managed to be champion of the Dakar Rally in 2017 and in 2022, but he has also been World Champion of Raids on two other occasions, 2019 and also 2022.
Unfortunately, in 2023 he suffered a heavy crash that prevented him from not only performing well in the Dakar, but also affected the entire season when he fractured a shoulder blade. Recovered for 2024, a breakdown in his GASGAS prevented Sam Sunderland from fighting for the rally once again and now we know that he will not be doing so again, at least in the motorcycle category.
We still don’t know if Sam Sunderland will change discipline
There is no clue as to the future at the moment, although we have already seen how other great motorcycle riders, especially young ones, end up trying their hand at four wheels. In any case, Sam wanted to say goodbye to the team and the competition with a statement of gratitude:
“It is with gratitude, humility, a little sadness, but no regrets that I announce my retirement from motorcycle racing after having had a career I once dreamed of. From winning two world championships to my two Dakar victories, it has been an incredible journey. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of this chapter and I look forward to staying close to the team and supporting their racing efforts in the future.”
As expected, both Andreas Hözl, manager of the racing team, and Pit Beirer, Director of Motorsport for the KTM Group, wanted to thank Sam for his efforts.
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Sam for his time with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say that we are sad to hear that Sam is retiring from racing, but we completely respect his decision and thank him for everything he has done for us over the years. Beyond being a phenomenal racer, Sam is a fantastic person – always supporting, motivating and a true team player. He is a big part of the GASGAS family, and we look forward to working with him again in new and exciting ways in the future.”
Pit Beirer – Director of Motorsport: “Sam joined the company in 2014, and since then his passion, dedication and results have been exceptional. Not only did he secure two world championships and two Dakar wins, but he played a huge role in the successes of the entire team. Over the years, our relationship with Sam became ever stronger, and with his move to Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in 2022, he continued to make history. While it is difficult to see Sam leave, we respect his decision. I would like to personally thank Sam for everything he brought to the team and wish him all the best for the future.”
