TWO Chepstow business men have completed a 6,200km motorbike race from Paris to Dakar.

Matthew Smith and Robin Powell, both ex-Chepstow Comprehensive pupils, travelled to Paris for the Africa Eco Rally competition.

The route takes competitors through France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, and Dakar.

Commencing at 8am every morning, riders travelled all day with a 15 minute stop at 1pm.

With 840km covered in one day, completing the race was no mean feat. 28 started but only 21 finished.

Matthew and Robin were the fastest finishing Brits with Robin coming in at 11th place and Matthew following closely behind in 12th.

The pair had cycled together for 30 years prior to the event and have even ridden up the Sugarloaf.

Matthew Smith said: "As a child I was inspired to ride motorcycles by my father Ken Smith who took me to school boy trials riding events.

"Robin and myself started riding when we were 17 years of age here in the Wye Valley and over the last 30 years have ridden in many different countries so to take part in the iconic race to Dakar was a natural progression."