I am Mark Holmes. 

On 1st. April 2017 I set off from London to become the first man in the world, to ride the world’s largest capacity production motorcycle, my 2.3 litre Triumph Rocket X, around the World.

On 20th. August 2018, I made it back safely to London. I DID IT !

I rode on 5 continents, travelled through 36 countries, riding nearly 39,000 miles (60,000 kilometres), in 506 days.

This was not purely a self-indulgent adventure. In fact, far from it.

I had a couple of messages for the world, and passions to share. I knew from previous trips on a another Rocket that it would attract attention, so it was quite easy to engage with people who stopped to admire the it. I told them that I wanted people to please stop smoking, because they are killing themselves, but also to ride a motorcycle, as it can be so much fun. One or other message always got a reaction. So too did a mention of Chelsea Football Club, or the Ted Simon Foundation.

If language and time permitted they then asked me basic questions about the bike. How big is the engine? How many cylinders? How much fuel does the tank hold? Many would go on to ask about my journey. Where are you from? Where are you going? Why are you travelling alone? What is your job? At first I wondered whether or not I should tell the full story. After all, they were only making polite conversation because they liked the look of the bike. I soon realised that I might as well blurt it all out. “My wife and I ran our own business for 28 years, but in November 2016 we went into administration. 11 days later, after 39 years of marriage, my wife died. She had been fighting cancer for quite a while. So, with no wife, no job, no income, no best friend, no soul mate, I decided to venture into the world, share my passions and love, and ask the world to deliver me something in return. I got on my bike and left the UK”. Immediately, their expression changed. At first their eyes started to light up. Then their mouth opened. Then their jaws hit the floor. They certainly never expected that answer to their simple question.

I set off with 4 passions to share:

    •    Triumph Motorcycles. I supported the Triumph Motorcycle brand wherever I went, engaging with motorcyclists and aspirants, as well as dreaming adventurers.

My Triumph Rocket X helped me engage with people in a way that few other bikes could do. With no punctures, two minor breakdowns quickly fixed by excellent Triumph dealers in Jakarta and Rio de Janeiro, it proved to be an great choice for me. I didn’t even drop it.

    •    The Ted Simon Foundation. I was at the inaugural meeting in 2011, and share their belief that individuals of good will, moving among foreign cultures and making themselves vulnerable to the beliefs and customs of strangers, have great importance in promoting world understanding, and even more so when they can communicate it. I wanted to try and understand more about the beauties, mysteries and tragedies of our world through my adventure, and allow my passion for people, places and history to grow. I have love to spare and share with the world. The Ted Simon foundation appoints and supports Jupiter’s Travellers to achieve these goals

    •    The Royal Geographical Society is the UK's learned society and professional body for geography, founded in 1830. They are a world leader in advancing geography and supporting its practitioners in the UK and across the world. The Society works with a wide range of public audiences to raise awareness of geography and its relevance to our lives. They aim to inspire people to become more informed about our changing world and the challenges it faces.  I am a Fellow of the Society, and tried to support their work on my journey.

    •    Chelsea Football Club. I acknowledge that football in general, as well as the club specifically, has the ability to engage and unite huge audiences around the world. From youth football’s ability to unite communities, to the first team’s ability to unite the world, I wanted to share my passion and create advocates. I am a Member of Chelsea Football Club and lived near their home, Stamford Bridge, for many years.