Star bikers Charley Boorman and Ross Noble take on Fifth Gear TV challenge...

BMW Motorrad UK
worldofBMW

Press Information 30 June 2010

Star bikers Charley Boorman and Ross Noble take on Fifth Gear TV challenge at BMW Motorrad Off Road Skills centre

What’s better: bikes or cars? It’s a question that’s sparked off many a discussion between petrol heads and race fans. And it’s one that keeps coming up on top motoring show Fifth Gear. They’ve raced superbikes against sports cars, pitched riders against drivers, run quarter miles and set blistering times around tracks.

On this week’s show (Thursday 01 July on Channel Five at 7:30pm) they leave the tarmac behind and visit the BMW Off Road Skills centre in Wales to take on a pair of R 1200 GS Adventures - a bike which has proven its off-road credentials time and time again. Fifth Gear presenters Tiff Needell and Jason Plato set up a series of challenges for the bikes and cars to compete in - all they needed was two willing riders.

First up is adventurer and TV star Charley Boorman. Charley has ridden around the world for the Long Way Round TV series and from John o’ Groats to Cape Town on a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. The second seat is taken by bike-mad comedian Ross Noble – who recently completed a stand-up tour of Australia, travelling around the country on his R 1150 GS.

It was a Pro-Am challenge – with Charley and Ross each teamed up with a Fifth Gear presenter. Tune into the show tomorrow night to see how it went…

Simon Pavey, seven-time Dakar competitor and Chief Instructor at Off Road Skills said: “It was great to have Charley and Ross back here at Off Road Skills. They’re both skilled riders – and top blokes. I helped teach Charley to ride before he set off on the Long Way Round and he’s been improving ever since. Ross is a massive bike fan and a GS owner too.”

BMW Off Road Skills is based in the stunning Brecon Beacons. The team of expert instructors, led by Dakar legend Simon Pavey, run a variety of courses which teach the skills required to ride off-road in the fantastic 4,000-acre Walters Arena in Wales.

To follow in Charley and Ross’ footsteps book your place on a BMW Off Road Skills course, spaces are still available on a number of dates. Visit www.worldofbmw.com or call on free phone 08000 131 282.