GS Trophy nears launch

From BMW Motorrad

MUNICH, GERMANY -- Beginning Nov. 13, 30 riders from 13 nations from around the world will compete in a week of adventure riding, special tests, teamwork challenges and problem solving in the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy.

The GS Trophy is a celebration of the spirit of the BMW GS motorcycle, bringing together those elements of leisure, adventure and challenge that this bike engenders. This edition of the GS Trophy is extra special as it’s also celebrating 30 years of the GS motorcycle.

The Africa 2010 event is the second edition of the GS Trophy, the previous edition took place in Tunisia in 2008. An immediate success, it pitched teams from different nations against each other yet also created a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie that brought them together. The team from the US may have won the competition, but all who rode in the 2008 edition quite rightly felt they were winners, too.

Word spread of this exciting event and so, to meet demand, for 2010 the GS Trophy (now a biennial event) has doubled in size. Instead of five teams of three riders, this edition will see 10 teams, comprising 30 riders from 13 nations, competing.

“The GS Trophy is an inspiration for GS riders all around the world,” explained Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director of BMW Motorrad. “GS riders are by their very nature both enthusiasts and adventurers, so the GS Trophy captures that essence by bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds to ride these wonderful bikes through such beautiful and challenging landscapes. The event is quite unique, and with 2010 being the 30th anniversary of the GS this edition in South Africa will be something very special.”

The participants of the GS Trophy are non-professional riders who have won their positions in the GS Trophy through national qualifiers known as 'GS Challenges,' which took place between April and October this year. The response from the GS-riding public has been overwhelming, with many events adopting two- and even three-day formats in order to support a fair selection process. In Japan, for instance, the Challenge event attracted 320 riders, while in Sweden over 500 riders took part in an expanded event that was branded ‘Adventure Days’.

The GS Trophy begins on Nov. 13 and ends on Nov. 21. The start and finish are both in Johannesburg, but between those dates the competitors will be riding across South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The exact itinerary and details of the tasks and challenges are to remain a well-guarded secret until closer to the start date.

Watch for more information on the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2010 on www.gstrophy.com as well as through Facebook and Twitter.