Paul (38), a lawyer based in Edinburgh, reached speeds of up to 75mph on his KGM 525 bike in temperatures of up to 42 degrees celcius, on a route which started and finished in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

And the experience had a happy ending as he received a bronze paperweight medal for completing the 14 stages 71st overall in the two wheel section.

"Being the first Brit home means a lot to me," said Paul, who wore a helmet, goggles, carbon fibre neck brace, body armour, knee braces and boots while coping with the demands of world sport's hardest race.

"Riding a motorbike instead of a four-wheeled vehicle is the hardest way to do the Dakar but it was brilliant fun."

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