BMW MOTORRAD GS TROPHY 2012 – UK QUALIFIER EVENT DETAILS ANNOUNCED.

British BMW GS riders are invited to attend the GS Trophy UK Qualifier and compete for the 3 available places in Team UK at the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime, International Final of the 2012 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy in South America.

What is the GS Trophy?

The legendary GS Trophy stands for adventure, sweat, challenge, foreign cultures, camaraderie and lots of riding fun – a unique motorcycling adventure you could never buy. What counts here is the idea of community, shared adventure, off-road passion and meeting fellow enduro enthusiasts from all over the world. Some 50 riders from numerous nations demonstrate their team spirit, fitness, tenacity and not least their riding skills over a series of six days. The GS Trophy is not a race but still confronts entrants with a major physical and mental challenge: they often describe it as the adventure of a lifetime. And although there is only one winning team at the end, it is always fascinating to observe during the competition how a bit of gravel, sand and dust can make people so happy. The overall community and group dynamic is clearly the focus here, and the GS Trophy is just as much a social event as it is a competition. The sustainable and responsible event concept ensures that the program is carefully harmonised with the cultural and humanitarian circumstances of the regions in which it takes place. All this makes the GS Trophy one of the most exciting enduro challenges in the world.

The 2012 GS Trophy is the third time that the bi-annual international competition has been held, and is the biggest yet. Introduced in 2008, teams from five nations took part in a ride from Italy to Tunisia and back. In 2010, over 90 British riders competed for the three places in Team GB. The three successful riders took on 11 teams from 14 countries in South Africa, with Team UK taking the coveted title after a thrilling ten-day battle.

The 2012 GS Trophy UK Qualifier, 18 – 20 May 2012.

Held at the famous BMF Show at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, British BMW GS riders are invited to compete for the three available places in Team UK at the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime, International Final of the 2012 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy in South America.

Competitors will take part in a whole range of off-road challenges on the range of 2012 BMW adventure-sports bikes, as well as taking part in road-based sections on your own GS motorcycle. The whole weekend is a hive of activity, with live music and entertainment laid on from dawn to dusk. Riders are based in the dedicated BMW GS Trophy camp site alongside the other competitors, staff from BMW Motorrad and guests to the event. For just £150, which includes the £42 weekend camping ticket to the show, riders can enter the competition and join BMW Motorrad for an action-packed weekend of enjoyable riding and entertainment. Friends and family are invited to join in the fun with additional guest passes available for £50.

The weekend-long event, which is suitable for riders of all abilities and levels, will involve a host of fun and enjoyable on- and off-road riding challenges, as well as practical and navigation tests on the stunning roads around the region. Importantly, the event is not a race; instead the activities will reward teamwork, mental and physical abilities as well as riding skills.

As the weekend progresses, the prospective riders will be eliminated in a series of rounds until the final event on Sunday 20 May, at midday in the Main Arena, to determine the three winners. At this point the finalists have to put their skills to the test in front of both the judges and the public, in a thrilling competition which will end with three lucky riders being named Team UK. The challenges and tests will be devised and judged by veteran Dakar rider and BMW Off Road Skills chief instructor Simon Pavey.

Next Stop: South America:

BMW Motorrad UK will send the three winning riders to compete in the International Final against teams from over a dozen countries in an amazing ten-day, 2,000km epic adventure being held in late November in South America. The teams will be pitted against both the incredible landscapes and challenging terrain of Latin America and the cream of GS riders from around the world.

The amazing, cross country off-road ride will be completed on F 800 GS motorcycles, with special trial sections along the way, involving the R 1200 GS and new-for-2012 G 650 GS Sertão, which will require them to dig deep and display the potential they showed at the UK Qualifying Event, and much, much more.

Whilst team UK will go all out to retain our GS Trophy crown, at the end of it all, it’s not just the trophy that counts: the shared experience and newly acquired friendships among the riders are ultimately a much greater triumph for every rider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the competition for?

Whist some level of off-road experience is required, the event is designed for hobby and amateur motorcyclists of all abilities. Riders competing as experts, or above, in any form of off-road motorcycling, should not take part.

Am I eligible to compete?

Key eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Competitors must be current owners of a BMW GS motorcycle.
• All competitors must be 21 years of age or above, and hold a full and valid license for riding their motorcycle in the UK.
• Only UK citizens (holders of British passports) will be entitled to be selected to represent the UK Team in the International GS Trophy event. In order to participate in the final (if selected) you must have a current valid UK passport and be available to travel to the 9-day Final during the period 17 November – 2 December 2012 (provisional dates).
• Other conditions apply. Please click here for a full list of entry rules & regulations.

What bike will I be competing on?

A range of BMW GS bikes will be available for competitors to use in the off-road elements of the competition. On road sections must be completed on the participants own GS motorcycle.

Where is the event held?

The 2012 GS Trophy UK Qualifier will be held in partnership with the famous BMF Show over the weekend of 18-20 May at the East of England Showground in Peterborough.

How much does it cost to enter?

The entry fee is £150 per participant and includes:

• Camping fees for 2 nights in a BMW GS Trophy dedicated area.
• Entry to all 3 days of the BMF Show including evening entertainments
• Competition fees
• Use of BMW GS bikes for off road riding including fuel.

The entry fees exclude:

• Fuel for your own GS bike
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Travel or transport to and from the event base at the BMF Show, Peterborough.
• Any catering food and drinks

Friends and family are invited to join in the fun for the whole weekend with additional guest passes available for £50.

I don’t want to compete – but can I still watch the event take place?

Of course; the GS Trophy UK Qualifier will be situated in a specially reserved area of the BMF Show. All visitors to the show are able to watch the competition take place. For event details and ticket information please visit www.thebmfshow.co.uk.

How do I enter the 2012 GS Trophy UK Qualifier?

You can enter the BMW GS Trophy by calling Off Road Skills on freephone 08000 131 282, or by clicking on the book now button at the top of the page.

Originally Posted on March 28th, 2012