Simon and Monika Newbound

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Simon and Monika Newbound are endurance motorcyclists from the United Kingdom.

In May 2002, Simon and Monika Newbound departed from Dublin, Ireland on one of the greatest endurance challenges ever attempted. Their goal was to ride two BMW motorcycles continuously until they had exceeded the existing world record of 99,600 Km.

On October 25, 2003 Simon and Monika completed a full circumnavigation of the earth. Their route went East to West and by the greatest landmass from Sligo, Ireland to St. John's, Newfoundland, via Norway, Moscow, Siberia, Tokyo and Toronto, Canada. During Simon and Monika’s world record challenge they crossed 54 countries. They rode their two BMW motorcycles, a F650GS and a R1150GS, above the Arctic Circle three times. They visited every state and province in United States and Canada, which included crossing the North American continent five times.

In October 2005 Guinness World Records formally acknowledged that Simon and Monika had not only broken the existing world record, but extended it by almost 84,000 Km taking the new world record to 183,000 Km. This world record challenge is regarded by Guinness World Records as the world's most demanding endurance challenge.

Their world record success is notable because Simon and Monika had no experience of motorcycle mechanics and achieved the world record without a support team or support vehicles. Monika broke the world record after just four days of motorcycle lessons. It was Monika’s first serious ride on a motorcycle.

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