“It’s been a huge adventure and one that we’ll all re-
member for a long time,” grinned Sam Sunderland as
he took victory in round two of the FIM Cross-Country
Rallies World Championship, the Silk Way Rally.
Sunderland, aboard the factory Red Bull KTM, rode
superbly in terms of speed and navigation through Russia
and Mongolia, creating a comfortable advantage at the
head of the overall motorcycle class when the rally en-
tered China. The Brit maintained a fast and largely mis-
take-free pace and carried his lead to the final stage of the
event, finally claiming outright victory.
With no fewer than three stage wins, Sunderland’s
dominant performance at the Silk Way Rally gives him his
second consecutive victory in this year’s FIM Cross-Coun-
try Rallies World Championship to extend his lead with
two rounds left to race.
“For me I’m so happy to get the win,” the KTM rider
continued. “It makes it two-out-of-two this championship
and it’s a really important one because of the points ear-
ned this round.
“I felt a bit sick during the middle stages but was able
to manage the race and stay on a good pace right to the
end.
“I’m really pleased for Andrew, who has ridden a great
race,” Sunderland spoke of the USA’s Andrew Short who
took his Rockstar Husqvarna to second place, albeit over
20 minutes off the winning pace.
Short hadn’t been considered a contender for an outri-
ght position before the start of the Silk Way Rally, even he
was a little surprised to be leading the fulltime factory ri-
ders and at the end of the ten days of racing was not only
surprised but full of confidence for future events.
“There were a couple of sections that were tricky, and
my speed wasn’t bad either,” grinned Short explaining
that he believes he has a strong future.
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