This sensational success was followed by other highlights: Sunderland secured first place at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2017 in April, whilst teammate Walkner won the OiLibya Morocco Rally 2017 in October. With these rankings, they are currently among the top five riders in the world championship ranking. The extraordinary success story will continue next year with the support of the Schlemmer Group.
"We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team in 2018. The Dakar Rally will be the next challenge in January and we are confident that we will be able to build on our previous successes," says Josef Minster, CEO of the Schlemmer Group.
At the Dakar Rally in January, the world's best motorcyclists will once again be competing for victory under extreme conditions in the world's most famous off-road race. The rally, which has been held in South America since 2009, will cover almost 9,000 kilometres in 2018 through three countries: Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.
"The experience from this ultimate endurance test will continue to flow into the successful development cooperation between Schlemmer and the manufacturer KTM to also establish our innovative cable protection components in motorcycle racing," explains Minster.
e Dakar Rally starts on 6 January 2018 in Peru's capital Lima and ends on 20 January in Córdoba in Argentina.