The fifth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy has come to a close after seven days of hard riding, with a win by the South African team. The fifth edition brought together 19 teams of three riders each, plus one embedded journalist per team, representing 25 nations for a seven-day 600-mile trek through the forests, jungles and mountains of Northern Thailand. The riding was possibly the most technical yet, as the riders guided their BMW R 1200 GS bikes along single-track trails more akin to enduro racing than adventure competition.
Held every two years since 2008, the GS Trophy is an international competition held by BMW Motorrad that gives everyday riders the chance to represent their country and challenge themselves through seven days of off-road riding, with numerous special skills tests. The event is only open to amateur riders (professional trainers or those who have ever held a race license are not eligible), and once a rider has competed he or she cannot return for another chance.
Team USA, comprised of Charles Lucht, Dennis Godwin and Thomas Asher, finished a respectable 8th place. Here’s what they had to say about what it was like to represent the USA on an international stage and tackle the toughest adventure riding challenge in the world:
“The whole event is everything I expected and then some. The accommodations are incredible, the food is off the chart, the riding is even further off the chart, everyone is cool, we’re busy all the time, the special tests have been ingenious, fun, interesting…it’s really been a great-great experience.” –Dennis Godwin
“The bike is awesome, if I had remembered to reactivate the ABS and traction control I’d not have crashed on day one—that was 100% operator error, I ran out of talent! I have an 800 GS, but I’m changing up to the 1200 GS now. This has been the best test drive I’ve taken in my entire life!” – Charles Lucht
Below is a highlight video from GS Trophy, the final results and selected photos from the event.
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2016 – Final Results
1 – South Africa 299 pts
2 (tie) – Germany 268 pts
2 (tie) – UK 268 pts
4 – Central Europe 254 pts
5 – Latin America 244 pts
6 – Brazil 242 pts
7 – China 234 pts
8 – USA 229 pts
9 – France 208 pts
10 – Italy 200 pts
11 – Argentina 188 pts
12 – Mexico 181 pts
13 – Russia 180 pts
14 – Canada 176 pts
15 – South Korea 146 pts
16 – Japan 138 pts
17 – Southeast Asia 138 pts
18 – Austria/Switzerland 117 pts
19 – International Female Team 116 pts
