The Italian duo Silvio Sabba and Valerio Boni set a new personal record for off-road distance covered in 24 hours aboard a production Ducati Scrambler. On a compact gravel circuit, laid out within Tenuta Roverbella, they completed 1,158 laps for a total of 1,462.114 kmfar exceeding the previous goal of about 650 km shortly after midnight, and finishing with more than double that.
The attempt was carried out independently and in accordance with the guidelines of the Guinness Book of Records; witness logs, continuous timing, video coverage, GPS tracking and course measurement certified by a certified engineer. In any case, the team has stated that formal ratification is in the process.
Three Italians and one destiny: A new Guinness record
The collaboration arose with the presentation of the 70th edition of the Guinness Book of World Records in Milan. Silvio Sabba, one of the 57 Guinness Icons worldwide, has accumulated 662 records in 12 years, of which 180 are still valid. Some were achieved during the recordings of the Italian program “Lo Show dei Record”. A former international enduro rider, he currently also holds the record for the most people jumped on a motorcycle (43).
Valerio Boni, a veteran motoring journalist, turned to breaking records more recently. During the COVID-19 months, he revisited an idea from 1979—driving a Vespa 50 for 24 hours for a report—and discovered that this concept equaled an existing record held by an Australian pilot, who had actually traveled 13 km less than Boni at the time.
That was the spark: Valerio ventured to face 24-hour challenges—starting with a minibike—and even left his comfort zone with a surprising feat: the highest average speed with skis on asphalt towed by a car, taking the mark from the American extreme sports figure Erik Roner.
The machine was simple: a Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle, with a Scrambler Nightshift as backup, both with original tires and with the support of an on-site mechanic. The place was the real puzzle. After weeks of exploration, the community of Frinco (Asti) prepared a pristine 800-meter clay circuit, only for heavy rain three days before departure to turn it into glue.
A quick turn led to Tenuta Roverbella, east of Milan: approximately 600-650 meters of dirt linked by two tight hairpins. It wasn’t ideal, each lap requiring slow, almost standstill reversals, but it was clean and controllable for an audited attempt.
Silvio Sabba, Valerio Boni suffered two punctures during the test
The flag started at 2:42 p.m. The pace was constant until a rear tire puncture, just under three hours later, forced them to switch to the reserve bike, observing the mandatory 15-minute stop for non-quick repairs. Once the wheel was fixed, the couple returned with the main bike.
At dawn, there was a second puncture: A seal and inflate canister extended the shift until dawn, when the rear wheel of the reserve motorcycle was installed in the primary. With the record already in their pocket shortly after midnight, they slowed down to secure the finish line.
Key numbers of this new Guinness record by Silvio Sabba, Valerio Boni
- Distance: 1,462.114 km (908.5 miles)
- Laps: 1,158 (circuit ~1.263 km / 0.785 mi per lap)
- 24-hour average speed: 60.940 km/h (37.87 mph)
- Gear changes: 14,000+ (approximately one every ~6 seconds, over 24 hours)
- Route: 610 m / 0.38 mi straight plus two closed hairpins; compacted earth with furrows and embedded stones.
After the test, Valerio Boni commented: “We wanted to prove that a production Scrambler with OE tires can handle a real dirt endurance challenge. Distance was never the concern, the real test was the mechanical punishment of potholes and rocks. The numbers tell the story.”
For his part, Silvio Sabba declared: “I brought the explosive side of breaking records and the enduro mentality; Valerio, the calm and rhythm of 24-hour races. Between punctures, mandatory stops and those very narrow hairpins, we achieved a clean and repeatable mark.”
