{"id":135734,"date":"2023-05-17T11:31:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T11:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/all-car-news.com\/belgian-wants-to-break-world-touring-record-visit-15-countries-in-one-day\/"},"modified":"2023-05-17T11:31:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T11:31:43","slug":"belgian-wants-to-break-world-touring-record-visit-15-countries-in-one-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/all-car-news.com\/en\/belgian-wants-to-break-world-touring-record-visit-15-countries-in-one-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian wants to break world touring record: visit 15 countries in one day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Current world record<\/h2>\n

The world record for most countries in a single day was held by Italian Valerio Boni until last year. That one visited 11 countries in less than 24 hours. Last year, Thierry Sarasyn broke that record by visiting 13 countries in one day. “It could have been 14,” Sarasyn recalled.<\/p>\n

“Along the way you do have some time to think. The goal was indeed 14 countries, but as I drove into Belgium after less than 20 hours, I realized that 15 countries should also be possible. I dropped the last part to the Netherlands, knowing that I already had the record and that there was little point in doing 14 countries if it was possible to do one more. More is not possible in my opinion. Unless they officially recognize Disneyland.”<\/p>\n

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Never say never<\/h2>\n

Yet for a long time it did not look like it would be Thierry Sarasyn who would try to break his own record. “I had completely had it after that attempt. To make the record official, the bike must be equipped with a tracking system. That records everything you do, including your speed. I don’t want and shouldn’t turn this into a modern Cannonball race. Everything goes through the traffic rules. So no excessive speed. Last year I had an average speed of just over 90 km per hour. But I was broken. Mentally and physically. And you have to keep it safe. So I hadn’t even gotten off the bike in the Arlon finish line when I announced I would never do this again.”<\/p>\n

Kawasaki Versys 1000<\/h2>\n

But never say never. “With the Kawasaki Versys 1000, I have a much more comfortable bike than last year. I know the routes, I know where the pitfalls are and I’m as prepared as possible. I avoided the places where I lost (too) much time last year in the route I mapped out. But even then, heavy traffic, road diversions, navigational errors, bad weather and a host of other issues remain possible. Even if everything goes smoothly, it becomes a dime a dozen. Saturday night around 10:30 p.m. – and preferably a little earlier – we will know if everything worked out.” The welcoming committee waits anxiously for Thierry at the finish line in Eijsden, South Limburg.<\/p>\n

The route<\/h2>\n

Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands.<\/p>\n