Argentina embraces the enduro world

Due to increasing interest in off-road motorcycle sports in South America and the expansion of its Enduro range, BMW Motorrad Argentina has opened a new Enduro Park in Buenos Aires. With the Dakar Rally visiting the continent for the first time next January, demand for off-road motorcycles is expected to rise significantly, so the brand is well-placed to offer added-value to owners and prospective purchasers of the new BMW G 450 X sport enduro.

BMW Motorrad Argentina has opened a new Enduro Park in Buenos Aires

This new BMW Enduro Park is situated on a three-hectare site on the famous Panamericana route close to Buenos Aires City and is the first official Enduro Park in Argentina. The site is only one kilometer away from the BMW Group offices in Argentina and is right next door to the on-road track that is used for the BMW Argentina Rider Training program. The course offers a variety of challenging terrain and obstacles including sand, mud, gravel, trunks, water trap, hoops, tree slalom, river, various climbs, and a speed hill. Constructing the course was no easy feat though, as it was originally a flat site that needed several weeks of earth moving to create the kind of enduro track that included tree trunks, gravel, hills and even a central lagoon with crossings and mud.

The Enduro Park is being managed by Andrés Memi, who is also engaged as one of the on-and off-road instructors at the facility. Andrés is a certified BMW instructor and has vast experience in motorcycle sports, having participated in and enjoyed success in many motocross, supercross and rally championships.

According to BMW Group Argentina's Motorrad Manager Martin Fritsches, interest in the off-road world in Argentina is constantly on the increase, offering a big growth opportunity for BMW Motorrad, especially with the recent launch of the G 450 X sport enduro.

The enduro track includes tree trunks, gravel, hills and even a central lagoon with crossings and mud

"Both the off-road segment and the motorbike market in general are booming in Argentina. This year, for the first time, BMW Motorrad will have sold over 1000 units, and the market in general grows every day. In the off-road segment, various competitions are taking place all over the country, attracting more and more participants and enthusiasts that love this activity. The super-sport enduro segment – particularly the 450cc category – is an important segment that is growing fast."

To officially launch the BMW Enduro Park in Argentina, around 500 people were invited to the track, including representatives from the specialist and lifestyle press, local and regional journalists, customers and fans of the brand, and professional enduro riders, who came along to sample the course and test the new G 450 X on the track. An 'Open Day' format allowed BMW Motorrad Argentina to showcase its entire enduro range and to raffle off test rides for a few lucky participants to receive instruction on the new enduro track. All in all, the launch event was a massive success, according to Martin Fritsches.

"The professional riders who tested the new BMW G450 X on the track were truly amazed by its performance and they were watched by all the visitors from two high stands located around the track," he said. "We are expecting around 250 customers in our first year and we are also planning to use the course for conquest activities to attract users of other brands of motorcycle and invite them to use the track with their bikes before trying the G 450 X. At present BMW Motorrad Argentina is not actively taking part in any enduro competitions but we are planning on building a team for 2009."

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