The first ever round-the-world motorcycle race has started from London.

Covering 25,000 miles through 20 countries, five deserts and four continents, the 24 competitors will be on the road for 95 days. The event will raise more than $160,000 for charities including Sight Savers, The Meningitis Fund and for Alzheimer's groups.

Mr. Sanders - who holds the Guinness world record for riding around the globe on a motorcycle (31 days and 20 hours) - and who has bicycled around the world twice, says the competitors will have their minds on the grueling task of covering up to 1,000 miles a day. "The riders are going to find it hard. They have had to train a lot over the last 12 months," he said. "They will be riding an average of 400 to 700 miles and up to 18 hours a day."

After their send-off in England, the bikes will be shipped to the United States, where the race will officially begin in three weeks.