2moroRider – crossing Asia from Turkey to Thailand

Three months into his year-long ride around the world, young British adventure motorcyclist Rhys Lawrey has crossed Asia, travelling from Turkey to Thailand on his Triumph Tiger 800 XC.

The 23-year old, who was born in Cambridgeshire and grew up in New Zealand, has so far covered 13,000 miles (21,000 km), biking through 19 countries. He still has another 43,000 miles to travel to achieve his dream of riding into the record books as the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe by motorcycle.

After leaving the UK at the beginning of May, Rhys rode down through Europe to Turkey, crossing the country from west to east and into Central Europe. Having travelled through the Turcic states, he crossed the border into China at the end of June, where he celebrated his 23rd birthday. Then it was time to head into South East Asia, through the notorious Golden Triangle in the the mountains of Laos, and into Thailand, finally coming to rest in Bangkok.

“The Triumph Tiger 800XC has made it all the way through some of the worst conditions - wet, cold, heat, mud, rivers, broken tarmac, road works, low octane fuel, the list continues” says Rhys.

"One of the reasons for attempting this record-breaking trip is to inspire other young people to travel the world and experience new cultures close up. You don't need to be rich or famous. I left school young and worked as a barman until I was 22, so I needed backing and I'm really lucky to have supporters like Rowan Public Affairs. I've known the directors, Craig and Barbara, since I was in my teens. They work in the motorcycle industry and felt that someone my age riding around the world would help to make biking more aspirational for youth. It's also a way of putting something back into biking and supporting the next generation. Their help has covered the costs of air-freighting the bike between continents, which is a major expense that could have scuppered the whole trip."

Additional financial support was announced unexpectedly in Bangkok by Core" Motorsport, the Thai team behind CORE PTR HONDA, who are racing in World Supersport. The company director is a keen adventure motorcyclist and was keen to help the young rider reach his goal.

From Thailand Rhys flies to Perth in Western Australia, while Motofreight transport the bike by air cargo, and will then follow the coast to Sydney, before flying to New Zealand for a reunion at his old school, Green Bay High in Aukland. Rhys is raising money for The Prince’s Trust, asking for a donation of just £1 for every continent he crosses (up to a maximum of six). You can follow his progress, view his video diaries and make a donation at www.2mororider.com.