Will Triumph Soon Race Dakar?

A contract with a certain Sam Sunderland seems to point in that direction.

By: Enrico Punsalang

Feb 20, at 8:54am ET

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Imagine blasting across endless dunes, your bike’s rear wheel carving deep trenches into the sand as you struggle to stay upright. The roadbook serves as your only guide and barely makes any sense as fatigue sets in. Your adrenaline’s pumping as sweat drips down your brow and onto your helmet’s cheek pads. A wrong turn could mean getting lost in the wilderness, and a mechanical failure could end your race in an instant.

This is rally raid racing—one of the toughest, most grueling disciplines in all of motorsport.

Unlike traditional enduro or motocross races, rally raids are endurance epics spanning thousands of miles. Riding skill isn’t the only requirement here, as racers need to don multiple hats just to have a chance of finishing. They need the stamina of a marathon runner, the mechanical sympathy of a seasoned mechanic, and the mental resilience of a Navy SEAL.

Of course, The Dakar Rally is the undisputed king of these events, drawing the world’s bravest riders and wildest machinery into a battle against time, terrain, and sheer exhaustion.

Photo by: KTM

The Dakar Rally by far the most iconic of the rally raids.

And now, thanks to the growing obsession with rally-inspired adventure bikes, manufacturers are bringing that Dakar DNA straight to the showroom floor. Bikes like the Yamaha Ténéré 700, Aprilia Tuareg 660, and Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro all scream “ready to race” in a way that isn’t so orange (wink, wink), and wasn’t common just a few years ago.

But if you’re a rally raid racing aficionado, Sam Sunderland is a dude who needs no introduction. The British rider is a big name in the sport, having conquered the Dakar Rally twice (2017 and 2022) and bagged the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship in 2022. Sunderland made history as the first Brit to win Dakar, and his ability to navigate at blistering speeds across unpredictable terrain has pretty much made him a legend.

Sunderland has become quite the legend in the world of rally.

However, in 2024, Sunderland announced his retirement from the world of racing, leaving fans wondering what was next for the off-road icon. Turns out, his next chapter involves a surprising new partnership—with none other than Triumph Motorcycles.

On the face of it, Triumph and Sunderland might seem like an odd couple at first. After all, Triumph is known for its heritage-heavy lineup of Bonnevilles, Thruxtons, and Speed Twins—bikes that are all about bringing back the golden age of motorcycling rather than the rugged off-road racing scene. But that perception is rapidly changing.

Triumph's TF 250-X motocrosser came as a welcome surprise in the off-road world.

Triumph has been making serious moves in the off-road world. The company flipped the script when it launched its TF 250-X motocross bike, marking its unexpected debut into the MX scene. Not only did the bike turn heads, but it also quickly found success, even bagging a podium in AMA Supercross.

Back in 2022, Triumph secured a win with the Tiger 900 Rally Pro piloted by Ivan Cervantes.

And let’s not forget that Triumph already dipped its toes into rally-style racing. Back in 2022, the British brand entered the Baja Aragón rally in Spain with its Tiger 900 Rally Pro. The bike was piloted by none other than Iván Cervantes, a five-time enduro world champion. The result? A class win, proving that Triumph’s adventure lineup isn’t just for show.

Triumph seems to be undergoing an interesting transformation—almost like a middle-aged banker who suddenly takes up skydiving on the weekends. The brand that once prided itself on classic, road-focused machines is now going full-send into the off-road world. And honestly? I love it.