“Destination Paradise” is the motto of the seventh edition of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy which will commence in early 2020. The GS Trophy will take place in New Zealand – just another dream destination for most adventure riders worldwide.
The participating nations now face a busy time, hosting their qualifiers and selecting their teams for this exciting and unique global adventure competition. 18 international teams, plus, as in the 2016 and 2018 editions, an international female contingent will be selected during the next months.
Confirmed teams for 2020:
Australia, China, Female Team(s), France, India, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Malaysia/Philippines, Mexico, Middle East, Nordic (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt), Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, UK, USA
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy Oceania 2020.
After the long days on the vast Mongolian Steppe of the 2018 Central Asia edition, New Zealand is going to provide a very different riding environment and experience for the qualifying GS riders, as Ralf Rodepeter, Head of Marketing and Product Management BMW Motorrad explains: “After Tunisia, Southern Africa, Patagonia, Canada, Thailand and most recently Mongolia, BMW Motorrad were again looking for a location that offers perfect ‘GS terrain’. Lots of legal off-road kilometres are required, with demanding route profiles, passing through fascinating landscapes and with plenty of exotic flair. New Zealand is a perfect fit on those terms. The variety of astounding landscapes from sea to volcanoes to high-altitude mountains, combined with the most beautiful vegetation and the rich Maori culture provide the perfect setting for what we think will be one of the most exciting Int. GS Trophies ever held.
About the Intl. GS Trophy.
The International 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 will see 19 teams – maybe even 20 – competing, meaning 54-57 riders, from around the world.
The event is not a race but a team competition, pitching the GS-riding international contingent against each other in a series of challenges – and not all involve riding. With the competitors camped nightly in a bivouac, the event also fosters a sense of brotherhood, sisterhood and camaraderie. Equally the GS Trophy is a celebration of culture and nature, the riders learning about and understanding the peoples and the terrains of the regions they encounter. So the successful team will be respectful of the environment, skillful and sympathetic with their machinery and understanding of team-mates.
At this time Canada will not be providing a team for the International GS Trophy challenge. However, we might be able to expect one happening for the 2022 Trophy Challenge.
You can find out more about the event and the teams at the dedicated website gstrophy.com.
