Team USA Wins BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy Tunisia 2008
Desert adventure and team spirit
Munich. Team USA secured an overall victory in the BMW GS Trophy in Tunisia/North Africa, held for the first time from October 15th – 25th. The desert rally over a distance of 1900 kilometers was entered by 30 participants from five nations, all riding identical and specially prepared BMW F 800 GS and seeking to demonstrate their skills over tough terrain.
The ambitious enduro amateurs from five nations (Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, USA) qualified for the first international GS Trophy in advance in national knock-out rounds. A total of 14 media representatives from the participating countries accompanied the national teams. The latter also rode the BMW F800 GS and so were able to experience the event at close quarters so as to be able to write first-hand reports.
The excellently organized premiere tour ran from Milan to Genoa and from there by ship to Tunis. In North Africa the riders set out on a long circuit from Kairouan via Ksar Ghilane, Tembain, Zaafrane and Port el Kantaoui and back to Tunis. From there the GS Trophy then returned to Genoa by sea and back to the starting point, Milan. During the six special tests in Tunisia, the teams not only had to tackle orientation tasks but also cope with massive sand dunes.
The first GS Trophy was defined by a strong sense of togetherness and camaraderie within the entire group. Considering that only the members of the various national teams knew each before the event, this was a clear indication of the enormous team spirit. It was only possible to survive the challenges posed by the desert by working together. Covering demanding routes through a foreign country, everyone became friends. During the entire event the emphasis was not on competition and speed but on team spirit, skill and adventure. So in fact everyone was a winner and not just Team USA.
Tunisia was a good choice of venue: this diverse North African country by the Mediterranean offers not just beaches but also huge sand dunes, salt lakes and mountains – perfect terrain for the BMW F 800 GS.
The rally train, consisting of 35 BMW motorcycles and various back-up and service vehicles, met with the hospitality and friendliness of local Tunisians wherever they went - as well as the local people’s enthusiasm for the BMW bikes.
In spite of – or because of – the challenges involved, all participants were able to gain experience and impressions during the ten days which many motorcyclists dream of: a sense of adventure and freedom riding through the North African desert.
The participants remained free of accidents and major technical problems and the BMW F800 GS showed once again what it is capable of. Florian Baumeister, Head of Marketing of BMW Motorrad Germany, said in Milan: "Our aim is to make the GS Trophy one of the most popular, regular enduro events. Due to the great success of the premiere we are planning to increase the number of participants next year to include teams from other nations in the next GS Trophy."
Final result:
1. Team USA (2700 points)
2. Team Spain (1900) / Team Germany (1900)
3. Team Italy (1400)
4. Team Japan (1000)
GS Trophy success
The first ever GS Trophy is now complete, and the event has been deemed a huge success. After several days of challenging enduro riding and physical tests, team USA took the honour of becoming the first GS Trophy champions. Although there had to be a winner, every team should feel proud of their achievements and the fact that they made history by competing in the inaugural event.
After six months of preparation, the GS Trophy finally got under way on 15 October when teams from Germany, Italy, Spain, USA and Japan departed Milan for Genoa, where they boarded a ferry to Tunisia – the location for the landmark event. Each competitor had been selected a few months before after impressing at regional trials. All the participants were amateur riders, with varying levels of ability, who shared the same desire – to go down in the history of the GS Trophy as pioneers of the competition. Travelling south through Italy on Touratech-prepared BMW F 800 GS motorcycles, the teams had little understanding of what they would face in Africa. Although they had been given a briefing in Milan, they didn't anticipate the experience that lay in store – an action-packed eight days in the desert of Tunisia, during which their enduro riding and problem-solving abilities would be put to the ultimate test.
After arriving in Tunisia, the first stop for the teams was the ancient holy city of Kairouan, where they stayed overnight before heading to Ksar Ghilane, an oasis on the edge of the Sahara desert. Up until this point the teams' introduction to the GS Trophy had been gentle, but the first challenge was imminent. An orienteering test pushed competitors to the limit. In unfamiliar surroundings and challenging terrain the teams travelled by foot from point to point, in order to secure the coveted first victory of the event. The Spanish team emerged victorious from the first challenge, but couldn't be complacent as two more activities were planned for the next day.
The second challenge involved a race across the Biben Dunes, with the German team taking their first win of the GS Trophy after a dominating display. A relay race on the mountainous sand dunes on the approach to Tembain followed – a challenge that required exceptional team work. The team from the USA proved their credentials with their first of four victories over the course of the event.
After a much needed rest, the teams awoke to challenge four, perhaps their toughest test yet – an uphill motorcycle push in humid conditions. Team USA were again the victors, but were made to work hard by the other competitors. Two more victories followed for the American team in the remaining two challenges of the event – a group relay race around the dunes at Monument Valley and a five-flag team race in the dunes of La Riguette.
After displaying their skill throughout the competition, the team from the USA were crowned the inaugural champions of the GS Trophy. However, according to the Head of Marketing for BMW Motorrad in Germany, Florian Baumeister, victory was secondary to the experience of competing in the GS Trophy. "The core spirit of the GS Trophy was that everybody, despite their nationality, trusted one another and were unified to deal with the challenges of the desert," he says. "The bringing together of many different cultures and the building of friendships must be seen as the most important and interesting aspect of this event."
When Florian and the rest of the team responsible for planning the event started the process six months ago, they had a picture in their minds of how the experience would pan out. And now the GS Trophy is over, does Florian feel that their goals have been achieved? "Yes, definitely," he answers. "When we began this project we wanted to hold a great team experience on BMW motorcycles and an adventure that nobody can buy. Now the event is complete, we are delighted. Strangers from five countries joined a team, made friends and stuck together to face all the challenges the desert could throw at them. Nobody involved will ever forget this experience. People dream of taking part in life-changing experiences and some, thanks to the GS Trophy, have experienced them."
The life-changing experiences included sleeping under the stars on a perfectly clear desert night, enjoying an oasis spa and riding the BMW F 800 GS through some of the world's most challenging terrain, offering perhaps one of the biggest tests in motorcycling. "Tunisia is wonderful and was the perfect place to hold the GS Trophy," comments Volker Geisler, Event Manager for BMW Motorrad in Germany and member of the organization team in Tunisia. "It has every kind of landscape that is possible in Africa – dunes, desert, salt-lake flats, beach and mountains. It is the ideal country for riding a motorcycle off-road."
Because of the nature of the terrain, the planning team had to choose a motorcycle that would be able to withstand even the harshest environments, which is why the F 800 GS was selected. "The motorcycles coped extremely well with the desert," says Florian. "We only had a few minor technical problems throughout the whole trip, so thanks must go to Touratech for its help in preparing the bikes for the unique environment in Tunisia. Thanks also to BOSCH and Metzeler for their support."
Following the success of the first GS Trophy experience, plans are already being put in place for the second event in 2009 when more teams are expected to compete. Although the action might not take place in Tunisia next year, the BMW Motorrad team are already hunting for the next host country. "Our goal is to find another perfect country for the GS Trophy in 2009 and to once again create a great team adventure," concludes Florian. "We hope the event will continue to grow, and already more countries are pledging their support for the idea."