ADVANCE NOTICE – SAVE THE DATE
2008 International GS Trophy Competition
Tunisia, North Africa – October 15-24, 2008

BMW Motorrad announces a new motorcycle competition: the International GS Trophy

The International GS Trophy is a skills-based contest with GS riders coming from all over the world for a final meeting to pick the best of the best in Tunisia, North Africa October 15 – 24. This Marketing Bulletin constitutes advance notice of the International GS Trophy for dealers. A direct invitation to all GS (also G 650 Xchallenge) owners including GS Trophy Rules, Application Form and further details will be posted at www.xplorgs.com next week.

A chance for U.S. GS Owners to defend the Stars and Stripes

This competition is not a race, but a lengthy and challenging ride in the rugged country-side of Tunisia both on- and off-road on new F 800 GS bikes that have been adapted by Touratech. It will include numerous tests in individual riding skills and group teamwork to overcome natural and man-made obstacles in the course of the ride. (Think of it as “Survivor” motorcycle-style.)

Markets competing include Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Japan. Each market (the U.S. included) will have a team with 6 riders. Three will be journalists and the other three will be BMW GS owners selected by BMW Motorrad in each market. Every country will want to succeed and take the Trophy so we can expect the skill level of riders to be very high. BMW will cover all travel costs, lodging and per diem expenses for the selected U.S. riders!

Three BMW GS Owners will be selected for Team USA
Riders must be highly skilled at off-road riding, be strong and physically fit and healthy. They will need a “can-do” attitude and team spirit. As Americans overseas, we’ll also expect them to be able to interact well with riders of many different countries and of course, with the native population. At this time, no visa is required for U.S. citizens but a valid and current passport is.

Each applicant will be expected to provide a short written statement describing their skills, riding achievements and level of riding expertise, photos of themselves and their bike(s), and a brief testimonial of why they love to ride the GS.

Six finalists will be invited at BMW expense to travel to Spartanburg to the BMW Performance Center for the final evaluation and selection of our three U.S. GS Trophy representatives. (The Spartanburg test will be at the end of August – exact date TBD.)

A key obligation of those lucky three GS owners selected to represent the United States will be to report on their experiences on www.xplor.com. Writing, as well as riding, ability will
therefore be part of the criteria used to choose our GS Trophy competitors.