If you’re interested in taking part in one of BMW’s International GS Trophy editions and were waiting to learn where it was going to take place next, you’re in luck. BMW Motorrad just announced that the 2020 event will take place in New Zealand, quite a dramatic change of scene compared to the last edition, if you ask me. Back in 2018, the teams in the competition ran against each other in the vast steppes of Mongolia.
For 2020, things are changing quite a lot. 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. As such, the organizers expect 54-57 riders from around the world to join in the fun.
“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 kilometers 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,” said Ralf Rodepeter, Head of Marketing and Product Management BMW Motorrad.
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.
