Joining Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing for the 2022 season, Sam kicked off his stint on the RX 450F with a bang by claiming victory in the 2022 Dakar Rally – the first ever win for GASGAS at the world’s toughest rally-raid. And that was just the beginning! Sam kept the momentum going with stellar performances at each FIM World Rally-Raid Championship round in 2022, ultimately clinching his second world championship title. What a year!

Sam first joined the company back in 2014, and during his time racing for the team he secured no less than two world championships and two Dakar victories, not to mention multiple stage and event wins along the way. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing couldn’t be more grateful for Sam’s passion, dedication, and sheer awesomeness he brought to every race. Sam will continue working with the team, using his vast experience in a support and development role. Thank you for everything, Sam, we’re already looking forward to working closely together again in the future!

Sam Sunderland: “It is with gratitude, humility, a bit of sadness, but without regret, that I announce my retirement from motorcycle racing after having a career that I dreamed of once upon a time. From winning two world championships to my two Dakar victories, it’s been an incredible run. I would like to thank everyone that has been a part of this chapter and I’m looking forward to staying close to the team and playing a part in supporting their race efforts in the future.”

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Sam for his time with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. I speak for the whole team when I say we’re 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 supportive, motivating, and a true team player. He is a huge part of the GASGAS family, and we look forward to working with him again in new and exciting ways in the future.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director: “Sam joined the company back in 2014, and since then his passion, dedication, and results have been exceptional. He not only secured two world championships and two Dakar victories, but he played a massive part in the successes of the whole team. Over the years, our relationship with Sam became stronger and stronger, and with his move to Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in 2022, he continued to make history. While it’s tough to see Sam go, we respect his decision. I’d like to personally thank Sam for everything he put into the team and wish him well for the future.”

Sunderland said: “I am more or less OK, a broken shoulder blade, big hematoma on my back and a concussion. I feel quite embarrassed to be laid here typing this out, being out of Dakar on day one is a tough pill to swallow, I want to first express my disappointment for my team who have worked so hard to give me the tools to defend this number 1 and deserve much more, also to my partners that support me. These moments are what make the victories so special, I felt really good this morning and was leading for the short part of the stage I rode then I have missed a stone under the sand in a river bed and had a pretty violent crash. Thank you Matthias Walkner for stopping to help me and to the medical crew for making sure I was safe. I will try to learn from this and I hope my teammates can bring home the result the team deserve. “

Norbert Stadlbauer – GASGAS Rally Team Manager: “Unfortunately, Sam crashed out of the race today after hitting a rock around 52 kilometers into the opening stage. He’s broken his shoulder blade and has a concussion so his time here at the Dakar is sadly over. It’s such a shame that this has happened as I know he had high hopes of making it back-to-back wins and we are lucky that he was not more seriously injured. It’s disappointing for sure but this is how racing goes sometimes. We are really pleased with Daniel’s performance today after he was off the bike for so long. The team wishes Sam a fast and full recovery, and we look forward to the rest of the rally with Daniel flying the flag for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing.”

Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2023, stage 1
1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:31:10
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:31:54
3. Mason Klein (KTM) 3:31:54
6. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 3:33:00

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 1)
1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 4:14:10
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 4:14:29
3. Toby Price (KTM) 4:14:49
5. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 4:14:55

• Sam wins final ADDC stage to claim overall victory in style
• GASGAS RC 450F faultless throughout five-day event
• Brit extends lead in Rally-Raid World Championship

Sam Sunderland:“It feels so cool to get the win! Abu Dhabi is always a tough race with the strategy and that was even more a factor this year as everyone was right on the pace. If you started a stage further back you didn’t seem to catch up so much time even though you were pushing like hell, so it was definitely a challenge this year. It was a tough race physically as well, partly because of the pace, but because of the heat too, as well as it being so close to Dakar. It feels great to get another win and extend my lead in the championship. It also feels good to be able to reward the team like this because they have all worked so hard all week, and it’s results like this that makes it all worth it. The plan now is to keep the ball rolling and carry this momentum into the third round.”

It was close one at the ADDC this year – Sam went into the final 371km stage with a narrow 23-second lead over the second-placed rider. Not backing down, the 2022 Dakar winner came out fighting to deliver what is arguably his most impressive stage result of the event. By kilometer 83, Sam had moved into the stage lead on time and from there he didn’t look back. Steadily increasing his lead, he went on to secure the overall race win.

Clocking in at the finish of today’s stage 34 seconds faster than anyone else, Sam claimed the overall race victory by over three minutes, after close to 17 hours of racing. The result extends his lead at the top of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship standings to a sizeable 17 points, with three rounds left to race.

GASGAS Factory Racing’s next FIM Rally-Raid World Championship event will be the Andalucia Rally, starting June 6.

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 5 Provisional Classification
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 2:20:57
2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 2:21:31
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 2:22:08

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 5]
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 16:54:24
2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 16:57:32
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 16:58:20

2022 FIM Rally-Raid World Championship Standings [After Round 2]
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 63 points
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 46 pts
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 35 pts

• Sam leads overall standings by 23 seconds
• GASGAS RC 450F performs perfectly in the dunes
• 371km final day of racing remains

Sam Sunderland:“Day four done, and I’m still in the overall lead, but it looks like things are really close at the top, just like Dakar. It was a tough stage again today with lots of rocky pistes and some big dunes. I caught Matthias (Walkner) around kilometer 80 and then rode with him for most of the day – he was doing a really good job of opening, so I just kept to a good, solid pace myself. It feels good to ride together like that and to be honest, I’ve been feeling a lot stronger in general as the race goes on. At the beginning of the event I felt a bit rough, but over the last couple of stages I’ve really found my rhythm and got into the swing of it. I’m happy with the bike and physically feeling good for the last stage, so we’ll see how we go.”

It was tough out there – it always is in the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship – but setting off near the front, Sam knew he had to get his head down and complete the stage without any mistakes to carry his race lead into the final day.

After catching up to Matthias Walkner, who had topped the previous day, the pace at the front was good enough for Sam to be able to take extra care over his navigation and ensure an accurate and safe passage through the challenging timed special. Arriving at the finish as ninth-fastest for the day, our 2022 Dakar Champ not only earned himself a really strong start position for the short 209km final special on Thursday, but was also able to maintain his overall lead in the event standings. However, with just 23 seconds now separating the top two, Sam will still need to go full gas on tomorrow’s final stage back to Abu Dhabi.

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 4 Provisional Classification
1. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:04:10
2. Toby Price (KTM) 3:04:42
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:05:14
9. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:09:40

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 4]
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 14:33:27
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 14:33:50
3. Toby Price (KTM) 14:35:09

• Runner-up result moves Sam into provisional rally lead
• Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge passes halfway stage
• Dakar Champion leads rankings by over four minutes

Sam Sunderland:“Another long, tough day here at the Desert Challenge – it’s so hot here, it seems like they turned the cooker on for us when we arrived. It makes it tough on everyone I suppose. I rode on my own for most of today, which makes it tough to gauge your rhythm against the rest of the field, so I just tried to push and push. I’m back at the top of the overall now, but I think with two days left to go it’s going to be really close to the end.”

The heat is on at the ADDC – literally! Faced with soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees in the Liwa Desert, Sam faced a tough day of racing on stage three of the 2022 ADDC. Making up the second leg of the event’s marathon stage, the third day of the event was super challenging with a 255km timed special made up primarily of tricky to navigate dunes.

After his ninth-place finish on stage two, Sam was able to get his head down and chase down the rider ahead of him. Despite pushing hard throughout the stage, the reigning Dakar Champion ended up racing much of the special on his own. Maintaining a strong pace and keeping a strong mind, the super-fast Brit was able to bring his RC 450F safely home to the finish in second place, after close to three and a half hours in the saddle.

The excellent performance raises Sam up to the top of the rally standings again where he enjoys an advantage of over four minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Two days of racing remain.

• GASGAS welcomes the 2022 Dakar Rally Champion to Austria
• History made as GASGAS wins world’s toughest rally-raid at just its third attempt!
• Pierer Mobility AG celebrates 19th Dakar Rally title

To celebrate the 2022 Dakar victory in style, Sam Sunderland handed out the trophy at the Headquarters to Mr. Pierer (CEO PIERER Mobility AG), before riding his winning Dakar bike through various buildings in front of excited employees.

Sam Sunderland:“It’s incredible to celebrate my Dakar win with everyone from GASGAS, I will remember this day forever. This really was a team effort with so many people at the factory in Austria fully behind the rally program, so it’s amazing to share this special result with all of them. This Dakar win really does feel so much better than my first! It’s my first rally win with GASGAS and things couldn’t have gone any better. The bike worked perfectly from the start, which made things a lot easier, as this year’s race was one of the toughest I’ve ever done. It’s been five years since my first win and with it being such a tight race this year, it makes this victory much sweeter.”

Stefan Pierer – CEO PIERER Mobility AG:“Winning our 19th Dakar Rally title and to bring back the trophy to Mattighofen is a very special moment for everyone here in the company. It clearly underlines our commitment to this very special event and writes a positive new chapter in our incredible Dakar history. Sam’s performance was truly impressive. With the support of the GASGAS team, he managed the race perfectly, fighting hard and using his experience perfectly. This is a result everyone involved in GASGAS can be very proud of.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsport Director:“Sam has done an incredible job at this year’s Dakar. It was a long fight, with many challenges to overcome, but with the support of the whole Motorsports team he was able to bring the trophy back to Austria. We are so proud of all the hard work the whole GASGAS team have put in to achieve their first Dakar win – it’s an historic victory and hopefully just the first success in what will be a successful year for the brand. When you think about what goes into a race like Dakar – the preparation, the logistics, the trucks, everything that goes on behind the scenes – all of this must come together to claim a win at one of the toughest events on the motorsport calendar. This is another important step in the onward progression of the GASGAS brand.”

Robert Jonas – Vice President Motorsports Offroad:“To win the Dakar Rally is a huge achievement for both Sam and the GASGAS Factory Racing team. We are extremely proud of the victory and definitely thankful to the hard work of so many. Sam did an amazing job, maintaining good speed and consistency at this year’s race, as well as navigating well through every stage to ensure he stayed near the top of the standings. And with such a dedicated team behind him, that performance was rewarded with a win at the world’s toughest rally raid. Congratulations to Sam and the whole of GASGAS Factory Racing.”

The rest, as they say, is now history!

Sam Sunderland:“Wow. What a feeling! That 10-minute period waiting at the end of the final stage to see if I’d won felt like a lifetime. But this feeling, knowing I’ve won a second Dakar, will stay in my memory forever. This win feels better than the first as this victory was anything but easy. The times were so close this year and there was no time to let off the gas, it was a really close race, right to the end. All of the hard work, the sacrifices, and everything that the GASGAS team has done for me makes it all worthwhile. It’s been five years since my first Dakar win, and it’s been a long time to wait! I’m super happy to get another win and claim the first one for GASGAS. Everyone on the team has worked so hard to achieve this and it’s a true team effort – together we got the job done. Amazing.”

Leading the race from stage two through to the end of stage six, the Dakar began perfectly for Sam. Riding flawlessly throughout the two-week event, he delivered the goods on multiple occasions when the pressure was well and truly on. Competitive from the very beginning, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland is 2022 Dakar Rally champion!

Sam’s second Dakar victory is not just an incredible personal achievement, it also marks the return of the title to the KTM AG Company. With 19 wins in the last 22 years, Sam’s victory re-affirms the group’s commitment and ongoing success at the world’s toughest rally raid.

While it’s all about Sam right now and his amazing achievement, it wouldn’t be right to sign off from Dakar 2022 without giving Daniel Sanders the credit he deserves. Our second GASGAS Factory Racing star taking on this year’s event, Chucky claimed two amazing stage wins, and on the final day of racing in week one, led Sam home for a GASGAS one-two. A crash on stage seven resulted in a fractured elbow and wrist, but the good news is that’s he’s had surgery and is now well on the way to making a full recovery. He’ll be back at the Dakar in 2023 for another run at the title.

Congrats guys, enjoy the party!

Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Team Manager:“Amazing, simply amazing! This Dakar was a really challenging race, right until the very end, so to win, it’s an incredible achievement. Throughout the whole event Sam was smart, strong, and his speed was exceptional. I’m really happy for him and the whole of GASGAS Factory Racing. The entire team has worked so hard to be successful and it’s a really special moment. There’s no feeling like it. I’d like to thank all of the team’s sponsors and partners, everyone in Austria, and now, after a two tough weeks, it’s time to celebrate!”

Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2022, stage 12
1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:40:00
2. Toby Price (KTM) 1:40:18
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 1:40:29
8. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 1:43:25

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 12)
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 38:47:30
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 38:50:57
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 38:54:17

• Sam returns to the top of the provisional Dakar leaderboard
• Outstanding performance on penultimate stage from Sunderland
• One day and just 163 kilometers of racing to go!

Sam Sunderland: “Today was a really tough one. We were expecting it to be difficult and even four kilometers in there were lines everywhere in the sand. From there on I had to focus on myself and stay on top of my roadbook, it wasn’t really an option to follow the lines ahead. Through the dunes I was able to make up some time, which was good and I just missed out on another stage win. Up until now the race has gone really well, the whole team behind me has been fantastic but the race isn’t over until it’s over. All I can do is hope for a clean run through tomorrow’s stage and then we’ll see where we end up.”

In rally racing, starting any stage a handful of riders behind the first rider generally proves to be an advantage, but with the navigation incredibly tricky on today’s penultimate stage of the rally, it was every man for himself out there in the desert. Opting to focus solely on his roadbook throughout the challenging 345-kilometer special, Sam was in superb form, narrowly missing out on the stage win but more importantly, now leads the rally heading into the final, decisive day of racing. It’s go time!

Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2022, stage 11
1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:30:56
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:31:00
3. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 3:33:22

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 11)
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 37:04:05
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 37:10:57
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 37:11:20

Sam Sunderland:“Opening a stage only adds to the difficulty of rally racing and I’m super happy with how the day went for me. On paper you could look at the results and think it wasn’t a great stage for me, but the reality was that leading out means you’re relying solely on your roadbook. Not losing huge chunks of time today means I did a pretty good job. Since my crash last week, I’ve felt better and better every day so I’m looking forward to this continuing through the final three days.”

In what’s turning into a four-rider battle for the 2022 Dakar title, Sam’s performance on stage nine may well be his best yet. With the Brit now firing on all cylinders after his crash during week one, he’s back to his best and more than ready for the final three days of racing.

Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2022, stage 9

1. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 2:29:30
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 2:30:56
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 2:31:17
14. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 2:37:33

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 9)

1. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 30:14:03
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 30:16:15
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 30:17:59

Sam Sunderland:“That was a really challenging stage today. There was a lot of sand early on but then near the end there were a lot of canyons to navigate through. You had to be really patient and choose the right one as it would be so easy to get lost and lose time. The guys opening, fortunately, did a great job, which made things a little easier for me but after leading out yesterday, I know how tough that can be. Early on I was pushing hard and I was a bit too aggressive with a few small crashes in the sand so I had to settle down a bit, get into a rhythm, and it paid off as I was able to take the stage win. We have some long days ahead, but today’s result is just what I needed after everything that happened yesterday.”

Undoubtedly, Sam’s determination and his ability to keep on keeping on, even when faced with ongoing Dakar challenges, is a huge reason the GASGAS RC 450F racer has returned to the top of the leaderboard. Relieved after taking his first win of the rally, Sam will be back in the hot seat tomorrow as the rider that has the unenviable task of opening the stage. Armed with his superior navigation skills, and a winner’s mindset, Sam will be first into a stage that will feature very little in the way of sand, yet a lot of rocky terrain, as he completes what might prove to be one of the pivotal stages of the 2022 Dakar Rally.

Results (provisional): Dakar Rally 2022, stage 8

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:48:02
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:50:55 + 0:02:53
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:52:13 + 0:04:11

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 8)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 27:38:42
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 27:42:27
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 27:43:25