BMW GS Trophy: Africa
The BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2010 reached its conclusion on Sunday, and despite very strong final-day challenges, Team UK emerged as the winner. The victory came over Team South Africa with Team Nordic third.
The day involved a trials riding special test at the Country Trax estate (riding a BMW R 1200 GS), followed by a 186-mile return journey to Johannesburg where the results of the final photo competition were later announced – all on a hot sunny day with temperatures in the high 20s (ºC).
The BMW Trophy trial involved sections containing a seesaw, tree logs, and iron beams. Team South Africa convincingly won, while Team Nordic also outpointed Team UK for the runner-up. This reversed the points table, putting Team South Africa in the lead by one point with just the photo competition results to be decided.
The photo competition at BMW Trophy has proven a great success and this third and final round saw over 10,000 votes cast. Team Canada won with almost a third of the votes but Team UK importantly snuck in with the runner-up while Team Nordic significantly also beat Team South Africa for third.
And so with scores of 152 to 151 Team UK regained their lead at the 2010 BMW GS Trophy – a lead they have held since day three – and took the GS Trophy title. Team Nordic were third just two points behind South Africa.
Alastair Allan (Team UK, BMW GS Trophy) says: “What can I say? Job done. Great feeling, loads of fun. As a good friend of mine says, it might have been only one point but a win’s a win, and that’s all there is to it.”
“It’s been a fantastic time. We made a brilliant team, we all got on like a house on fire and that’s what made it a great event to take part in. And I think the fact that the team got on so well is the reason the result ended up as it did.”
Photo Competition Results:
1. Team Canada
2. Team UK
3. Team Nordic
2010 BMW GS Trophy Quotes
Börre Skiaker (Team Nordic, BMW GS Trophy) says: “Every day has been a really good time, and every minute has been a good time. Me and my colleagues in Team Nordic have enjoyed the trip, the competition, the meeting with the other people, it’s been great!”
Marco De Muri (Team Italy, BMW GS Trophy) says: “Our favourite moment was when we reached this village up in the mountains on Day Four (we submitted a photo from that into the second photo competition). We were stopped for a special test and we had time to meet the children from the village. They had nothing but their smiles, they were amazing.”
Shannon Markle (Team USA, BMW GS Trophy) says: “The best bit was hanging with my buddy Iain Glynn. That’s number one. We’d never met before the GS Challenge, but when we met it felt like we were soul mates. It was also my first real experience of meeting so many nationalities – it was really cool to see how enthusiastic the Spanish and the Italians are, full throttle through everything!”
“And towards the end we got to understand it wasn’t about who was first, second and third – everyone had won just by being here.”
Shigechika Aikawa & Tohru Tamiya (Team Japan, BMW GS Trophy) says: “For us, the help from the other teams and BMW staff was our highlight. If Team South Africa and Team Germany had not helped us on days three and four then we would not have been able to complete our journey.”
“Also on day three in the deep sand Shigechika broke the gear mechanism on his bike and the mechanics repaired it overnight. Then on day four he crashed and injured his foot and the medical staff helped him, he could not have ridden without their support.”
Dominique Lemaire (Team Canada, BMW GS Trophy) says: “I think it’s a culmination of events. I came here with the intention of enjoying myself and I think that’s been achieved. I wish that it could carry on but I’m also at the same time glad it’s over and that I made it here safely.”
“We touched a little bit of everything and you really get to leave here with a taste of what South African is, we’ve been in places I could never go. It was really something else.”
Kevin Hammond (Team UK, BMW GS Trophy) says: “This morning we said to ourselves ‘what will be will be’. We thought we’re all winners, it’s been a fantastic trip, we’ve done 2000km, everyone’s back in safe and it’s been absolutely fantastic.”
“The best bit for me was reaching Ponta do Ouro and turning the corner and seeing the Indian Ocean. It was my 50th birthday, we’d ragged the bikes through the sand and we sat there having a cold beer.”
Johannes de Cuitiis (Team Alps, BMW GS Trophy) says: “The whole week was great. The first thing is not to win, but see new things, to help each other. But then yesterday we had that beautiful position – a win – and this was a very good push forward, we can win, it’s possible!”
David Borcha Mateo (Team Spain) says: “We have a team with good feeling, we come here to have an adventure with riders from other parts of the world and it was complete. We had adventure, we had good tracks and roads, we had accidents (sometimes it is necessary!).”
“And we have good food, good feeling. The Spanish people are always laughing, having fun, making friends, we enjoy a lot, it’s a pity we can’t do some things’ better, but we are happy and really satisfied. The marshals, the organisation – everything is more than perfect.”
Dirk Remmel (Team Germany, BMW GS Trophy) says: “Probably the comedy of the towing test. There was a lot of adrenaline involved. I remember going for speed, speed, speed and there were cows blocking the track and I could hear only crying from him (Werner Modelmann) behind!”
“I remember thinking we needed only one cow to move to make space for us, and she did at the last moment. You know we did so much this week I can’t remember it all. I can’t wait to go home, to go online to find out what we did do!”
Roger Kane Berman (Team South Africa, BMW GS Trophy) says: “That sand ride with the Japanese was the hardest day’s riding I’ve ever had. But they were so grateful and so it was so rewarding, it was a battle with the language and the cultures. It was an amazing ride, so intense, we went through so many emotions in the course of a day, it’ll stand out in my mind for a very long time.”
Tomm Wolf (Co-Organizer BMW GS Trophy) says: “Everyone is at home, standing on their own two feet and smiling – I’m really happy now. My really tough part was mid-week crossing the border for Mozambique and then reaching the Indian Ocean.”
“I was so happy to reach there Â- we’d called the day ‘Mission Ponta’ – and after that the most difficult part was over. We’re looking to 2012 now. People have asked can we better this? I think we can. Can you imagine breakfast in Machu Pichu or canoeing on Lake Titikaka? I think we can find nice places.”
2010 BMW GS Trophy Final standings:
1. UK, 152
2. South Africa, 151
3. Nordic, 149
4. Canada, 124
5. USA, 107
6. Alps, 105
7. Spain, 101
8. Germany, 95
9. Italy, 86
10. Japan, 54
