BMW Motorrad UK has selected the three riders who will be representing the UK in the International Final of the GS Trophy in South America.
Over 50 GS riders and their supporters showed their "GS spirit" and joined BMW UK to camp and take part in the weekend-long UK Qualifier event, which was held at the BMF Show in Peterborough. GS owners Nick George, Cameron Thompson and Steve Rose will represent the UK in the International Final this November.
The BMW Motorrad GS Trophy is an international off-road riding competition, which sees three-rider teams from around the world competing in a long-distance overland adventure. The first GS Trophy was held in 2008, in and around Dakar and North Africa, while in 2010 the final was won by the British team in South Africa.
This year's final will be held in South America, where the riders will take part in a ten-day off-road adventure ride, covering more than a thousand miles on BMW's stunning lightweight F 800 GS parallel-twin adventure motorcycles.
The 50 competitors were put to the test in a number of arenas, devised and judged by BMW Off Road Skills chief instructor Simon Pavey and his team. Tasks included a quarry section, road riding loops, a trials arena and timed teamwork challenges which saw pairs of competitors changing wheels on a motorcycle and setting up a campsite.
The six finalists had to complete a further six challenges in the Showground's main arena in front of the crowds at the show, further adding to the pressure. The final tasks ranged from the simple, who could do the longest controlled skid; to the unexpected, doing a slalom on a specially-modified one-off R 1200 GS with the clutch and brake levers both on the same side; to the bizarre, controlling a GS while rolling alongside it on top of a giant cable drum.
The three winners proved themselves to be the best riders and team players of the weekend and will now go on to take part in the International Final in November.
Finalist Cameron Thompson, 48, owner of a Citroen dealership, is an R 1200 GS Adventure rider from Stroud in Gloucestershire: "This is the second time I've entered the GS Trophy. In 2010 I just missed out on the final, so I thought I'd try again - and I'm glad I did! I'm over the moon to have won a place in the final. I think I need a drink now..."––Paul Duchene
