BMW is celebrating 30 years of the iconic GS in 2010. To mark the occasion, BMW Motorrad UK has teamed up with Simon Pavey and the BMW Off Road Skills School to host the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy UK Qualifier; a unique sporting challenge which will culminate with three amateur British riders being selected to represent the UK at the International GS Trophy Finals, held in South Africa in November 2010.

The GS Trophy UK, taking place on 31 July / 01 August 2010 at BMW Off Road Skills’ headquarters in South Wales, is Britain’s only national qualifying round for this major international motorcycle competition. Open to all owners of BMW GS motorcycles, the two-day UK qualifier will put participants through a series of on and off-road challenges, combining team work and mental and physical tests. Riders will also be judged on their ability to negotiate hazards and obstacles over varying cross-country terrain.

The courses and tests, designed by seven-times Dakar competitor Pavey and his team of expert instructors, will take place around the stunning Walters Arena. The emphasis will be on skill, rather than speed, with activities devised for riders of all abilities in a challenging, yet safe and friendly environment. However, the ultimate aim is to select a three man team to compete for the coveted GS Trophy against other amateur riders from nations such as Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan and the USA.

The three winners will be flown at BMW expense to Johannesburg, issued with full riding kit and compete in the GS Trophy Finals on BMW’s F 800 GS machines.

With entries accepted on a first-come-first-served basis, the UK qualifier will be limited to a maximum of 200 participants, who will be required to ride their own GSmotorcycles around a cross-country course***. The course will include several observed sections, which competitors will be required to complete ‘feet up’ (on the pegs) in order to avoid being docked penalty points. All participants will ride the same number of laps, with the riders accumulating the lowest number of penalty points topping the leader board.

Riders will also be required to navigate their way around approximately 100 kilometres of road and trails, taking in some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in South Wales. This will be completed in teams of three, with points deducted for failing to follow the correct route, missing passage controls, or failing to complete the route in the allocated time.

On the afternoon of the second day, the top 20 riders will progress to the Grand Final where they will tackle a further number of observed sections and skills tests on a standard GS motorcycle, provided by the organisers. The top three riders will be selected from these final skill tests.

The GS Trophy was first introduced in 2008, giving the worldwide community of GS riders the opportunity to experience a unique off-road adventure: a sporting competition defined by a powerful sense of team spirit. The 10-day Final, featuring teams from around the world, will be a challenging test of physical rigor, technical ability, and riding skills – combined with great camaraderie and a rewarding sense of achievement.

Tony Jakeman, Marketing Manager of BMW Motorrad UK, said, “BMW Motorrad UK and BMW Off Road Skills will endeavour to capture the spirit of the GS Trophy at the UK Qualifier. While ultimately there will be a winner, the national qualifying event is all about GS enthusiasts coming together and enjoying the opportunity to take part in a unique off-road event. Anyone with minimal off-road experience will be eligible to participate, such as those who have completed the Level One course at Si Pavey’s BMW Off Road Skills school.”

Simon Pavey, Chief Instructor of the BMW Off Road Skills school, said, “Three riders from the GS Trophy UK Qualifier will be selected to go on and represent their country at the International Finals. However, this event is more about providing GS riders of all abilities with a fantastic two-day experience. There really will be something for everyone. With overnight camping, evening entertainment and more than 200 riders and their guests coming together, the GS Trophy UK Qualifier will be a celebration of off-road riding and the BMW GS.”

But most importantly, you don’t have to be competing to be a part of the GS Trophy. If you want to come along as a spectator and be a part of a fantastic weekend then mark it in your diary!

For the GS Trophy Rules and Regulations click here.

To book you place in the GS Trophy click here.

The star of ‘Long Way Round’, ‘Long Way Down’, ‘Race To Dakar’ and ‘By Any Means’ is live on stage at a theatre near you! With big video screens and some amazing clips of his adventures – some of which have never been made public – this night with Charley is going to be one to remember! If you liked any of Charley’s shows – this is going to be your classic night out. Get the opportunity to ask questions and chat to Charley – as well as get your book or DVD autographed at the end of the night…. This is Boorman close up – and no mistake!

We also have a very special guest on the show – Simon Pavey, the BMW Dakar Legend and director of the BMW Off Road School will be on stage discussing his own amazing life – together with his experiences in Charley’s TV shows. Up close and personal with Simon Pavey

All of this is being pulled together with one of the few people who’d dare to ask those ‘awkward’ questions, Billy Biketruck. Billy will be your host for the show – interviewing Charley and Simon and getting to the nitty gritty. Be shocked at the questions – and be doubly shocked at some of the answers!!!

On top of this, you can enter the BMW UK Sponsored prize draw, at any of the venues around the UK, and win yourself two places on the acclaimed Off Road School, including two nights local accommodation. The winner will be drawn at random from all the entries at the very last stop on the Charley Boorman Live Tour, Dublin. To win this fantastic prize all you need to do is attend one of the many dates at a theatre near you throughout March and have a great night out!

To find out when you nearest gig is and book tickets visit;

www.charleyboormanlive.com

Portugal 2010 – A picture of Paradise

Sun, sea, great roads and better off road. It sounds like paradise and the Off Road Skills Portugal trip in February was a bike riders heaven. And if it wasn’t for the unlucky weather system that gave Portugal it’s worst weather in a very long time, it would have been absolutely perfect.

Using the www.Biketruck.com arctic lorry to ship eight brand-new F800 GS, six G650 X-Challenge, a handful of the X-Country and all the ORS kit, the team found their home in the costal resort of Vilamoura, a mere 15km from the nearest major airport in Faro. Flying in the week before to set everything up, we quickly discovered the potential that Portugal has, with great tarmac, phenomenal dirt and incredible views. This was going to be a great few weeks riding.

Simon has been harping on about the riding in the Algarve ever since he returned from three weeks in the sun, guiding dealers around on the F800 GS launch back in ’08 and so he decided the time had come for another ORS Trip. Joining him on this trip was ORS co-Director Linley, Senior Instructor Gwyn, Senior Technician Evan and junior instructor/photographer Llewelyn.

The plan was for two groups of customers to come over a week each. Joined by a healthy sized group of ten on both weeks, there was great atmosphere and a fantastic two weeks ensued. Based out of the 4 Star Dom Pedro Golf hotel we were surrounded by every holiday activity you could want for you and any additional family members. Many of these remained unused however and over-shadowed though in the wake of the amazing riding.

Setting out at around 8:30 every morning the weeks flew by with mixed weather, but the temperature remained relatively warm despite the mix of sun and rain. Averaging around 130 miles each day, meant the groups were putting in some serious riding time that was split up only for coffee, some serious lunch stops and to admire the incredible views.

The riding is simply stunning, the tarmac is as good as anywhere you’ll ride in the world, the trails are as easy or hard you want, are endless and more fun than a bouncy castle! You need to come on this incredible trip, you haven’t seen riding this good ever. Just ask any one of the customers who joined us for the beginning of what is one of the best overseas tours available anywhere.

We would like to thank all the customers who joined us, John Bentman for his journalistic coverage, all the staff who made this possible and Luis from Dom Pedro for his great support of the ORS Team.

Details of next years tour will become available later in the year.

To see the Images from this years trip click here www.thatcamerakid.com

And coming soon will be a video of the trip too!

BMW Off Road Skills Instructor Tamsin Jones, has managed to fight her way to the finish of the 2010 Dakar Rallye. As the latest instructor from the ORS to claim a Dakar Rallye finish, it brings the total number of ORS Team Dakar’s to an extremely impressive 14! Tamsin has every right to become part of that list too, with some impressive tales and adventures to go alongside her finishers medal. Fellow Off Road Skills Instructor Craig Bounds was somewhat less lucky in his attempts. Craig’s second Dakar was going rather to plan, with some very impressive top 30 results including a fantastic 18th place on stage 2. But as the finish loomed, Craig’s KTM 690 Rallye gave up the ghost 25km into stage 13. After some desperate attempts to restart his bike in the sand dunes, with the aid of a pair of horses, Craig managed to get back to the liason through 12km of sand, his bike running purely on tick-over. All of this was done in some particularly extreme weather, so hot his petrol had started to boil in the fuel tank!

And only two weeks prior to Dakar’s start, both riders were at ORS HQ with the rest of the team taking part in the Instructor training, a weekend where all the Instructors come together to re-iterate and share their methods for teaching and demonstrating off-road techniques. As usual the Off Road Skills Team are always striving to be the best that they can.

The Off Road Skills season starts up again soon with the ORS Team heading to Portugal for two weeks of tours at the beginning of February. The School starts proper on the 18th of March with our very popular Day in the Dirt, followed immediately by a Level 1/2/3 GS and a Level 2 Enduro on the 19/20th.

Tamsin Jones will also be heading up the ORS Women’s Only School on the 27/28th March and the 28/29th of June.

To book you ORS experience click here.

Images by Llewelyn Pavey – www.thatcamerakid.com