Motorcycle riders who will take part in the BMW Motorrad “Ride of Your Life” tour have now been confirmed. The lucky winners were selected out of 12,000 applicants worldwide based on their riding ability, sense of adventure, their ability to work as part of a team and their physical fitness.
The “Ride of Your Life” gives five winners the chance to set out on a road trip spanning five continents. The winners are: Herbert Unger of Germany, who has been riding a motorbike since he was 18 years old and is about to celebrate his 50th birthday; Alessio Cigolini of Florence, an Italian who works for one of the world’s largest conglomerates and loves to spend free days riding through Tuscany; Salvador Echevarría of Barcelona, a business man who is always looking for a challenge—whether at work or on the road; Stephane Gautronneau of Paris, a French a fashion photographer who feels at home anywhere in the world and who has covered the 16,000 kilometres from Paris to Goa on a motorcycle in 46 days; and Stephanie Rowe of England, a motorbike professional who works in the motorcycle accessories industry and is a highly successful female enduro racer.
“For me, it wasn’t just about having the right riding skills,” explains Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, “it was also about having the right spirit. After all, this is what drives each of us, and what creates the enthusiasm that is so important to all motorbike riders.”
Brody was one of four celebrity judges including Rick Yune, Charley Boorman and Jutta Kleinschmidt.
“The perfect candidate is able to find the right balance between courage and caution on the road,” said Yune, a Hollywood action-film star. “If they can do this, they will have time to appreciate the tour’s different destinations and find their inner strength.
Actor and adventurer Boorman, and rally rider Kleinschmidt also think that having an open, friendly attitude is important. “We’re looking for riders who also want to stop once in a while and get to know the locals. Wherever you find yourself, there should always be time to talk to people and make new friends.”
The winners all have different personalities and bring a range of motorcycling experience to the table, but they all have the same expectations of the tour: they are all looking for one big adventure that combines incredible natural beauty with the opportunity to ride the new 2013 BMW R 1200 GS. They will also be the very first to ride this bike before it becomes available on market.
The “Ride of Your Life” tour will pass through widely different climates and landscapes, from the misty jungle of Asia to Africa’s arid lands, New Zealand’s national parks, the endless prairies of North America and the steep mountain passes of the Pyrenees. The final destination will be BMW World in Munich, Germany. For more information, click here.
