BMW Motorrad announces UK Qualifying Event for 2012 GS Trophy.

BMW Motorrad
United Kingdom

Media Information 29 March 2012

BMW Motorrad announces UK Qualifying Event for 2012 GS Trophy.

GS-riders can fight for their place in Team GB at a spectacular on and off-road competition to be held at the BMF Show on 18-20 May.



British BMW GS riders are invited to compete for the three available places in Team GB for the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime, International Final of the 2012 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy in South America.

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. For just £150, which includes the £42 weekend camping ticket to the show, riders can join BMW Motorrad for an action-packed few days of enjoyable riding and entertainment.

Competitors will get to 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 their own GS motorcycle. The whole weekend will be a hive of activity, with live music and entertainment laid on from dawn to dusk. Riders will be based in the dedicated BMW GS Trophy camp site alongside the other competitors, staff from BMW Motorrad and guests to the event. Friends and family are invited to join in the fun for the whole weekend with 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 will 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 GB. The challenges and tests will be devised and judged by veteran Dakar rider and BMW Off Road Skills chief instructor Simon Pavey.

Simon Pavey, chief instructor at BMW Off Road Skills, said: “The GS Trophy is going to be bigger and better than ever. In 2010, we found three amazing riders who went on to win the tournament in South Africa. This year, we’re going to have a bigger and more exciting event, held right at the heart of the BMF show. My team and I will put on a hell of a show, and hopefully find the 2012 GS Trophy champions, too.”

Tony Jakeman, Marketing Manager for BMW Motorrad UK, said: “The 2010 BMW GS Trophy was a fantastic event for us, both to be involved with such an exciting adventure ride, and for Team GB to return from South Africa victorious. And for 2012, we’re planning an even bigger and more exciting competition both here in the UK and in South America.

“With the UK selection event being held at the BMF Show in Peterborough, we can offer a hugely entertaining and great value weekend of riding and activities for both show-goers and prospective Team GB members, as well as for their families and friends. We encourage riders and their supporters to join us in the dedicated GS Trophy camping zone, to really get into the spirit of this fantastic occasion. We look forward to an exciting event and meeting the potential overall winners of the 2012 GS Trophy!”

Martin Chick, from the Mulberry Group, show organisers for the BMF Show, said: “We are absolutely delighted that BMW Motorrad is bringing the GS Trophy to the BMF Show. With over 40,000 visitors attending throughout the weekend, and currently more than eight manufacturers there to showcase their bikes, events and activities, combined with the GS Trophy which will be the highlight of our daytime entertainment – this is one not to miss. The final rounds, to decide who will represent their nation, will be held in the main arena, where the crowds can cheer on the finalists and get right in amongst the action.”

Riders can book a place in the UK Qualifying Event, which costs £150 per rider and £50 per guest by clicking here.

To qualify for the event, riders must own a BMW GS motorcycle, hold a British passport and full motorcycle licence and be aged 21 or over. For the full terms and conditions of entry, please click here.

Riders should attend the event and participate in all the road-based activities on their own GS motorcycle and be prepared to camp for the weekend. BMW Motorrad will provide a selection of GS bikes for use in the Off Road Challenges.

2012 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy International Final - South America.

The three riders selected to represent the nation will go on 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.

The history of the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy.

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 GB taking the coveted title after a thrilling ten-day battle.