THE first British competitor to claim victory in the 'world's toughest motorcycle race' said he's faced "heavy times" in his fight to be the best.

Sam Sunderland, who grew up in Poole, made it to the end of the Dakar Rally - a gruelling off-road endurance event - 32 minutes head of his nearest competitor.

The 27-year-old, a former Lytchett Minster School student, said competitors go from 45C heat in Paraguay to temperatures of around 2C in Bolivia at different stages in the race.

"It's heavy - it's definitely tough," he said.

"It's no joke. It's not cruising through the desert. You're racing hard and pushing it further every day."

One low moment came as Sam attempted to navigate his way through a maze of river beds with a compass.

"Paths were forking off and I wasn't really sure which one I should be in," he said.

"You have to follow the compass heading, but it wasn't clear.

"A lot of top guys got lost there. I got really lost."

Sam, a Red Bull KTM rider who now lives in Dubai, took the lead after stage five of 12.

It is the third time he's attempted the race, having previously entered in 2012 and 2014 with Honda.

However, in both of his previous races, he was forced to retire early.

He said: "One time I went out because of mechanical problems and the other time it was due to my own mistake, which was a crash.

"It was really frustrating."

Further problems followed.

Just over a year ago, Sam broke his femur and faced an operation in Morocco to repair the damage.

"To come back from that and race again has been incredible," he said.

Sam first started riding bikes around his granddad's dairy farm in Ringwood at just seven years old.

"I was always out on a BMX getting myself hurt," he said.

A neighbour offered him the chance to ride a motocross bike for the first time, and Sam said: "I rode it through a bush.

"That was my first experience of it."

After leaving school, he took on an apprenticeship as a lift engineer for three years before moving to Dubai and becoming a sponsored pro.

In 2014, he became the first British rider to win a stage of Dakar since John Deacon in 1998.

It fired up a determination to win.

"It's human nature to want more," Sam said.

"I wanted to try and win."

The 38th edition of the rally began in Asuncion, Paraguay and ran through Bolivia and Argentina.

It is widely regarded as the world’s hardest motorcycle event.