München. Plans for the 2020 BMW Motorrad
International GS Trophy in New Zealand are advancing. The biggest news
is that after three editions with the BMW R 1200 GS, for 2020 the
chosen motorcycle is the new BMW F 850 GS.
BMW Motorrad has also announced the date: The seventh edition of the
Int. GS Trophy will take place February
9–16, 2020.
For the first time the route is not a loop on account that it will
take in both New Zealand’s North and South Island.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Argentina have entered the list of
confirmed teams.
The motorcycle.
The biggest news is that after three editions with the BMW R 1200 GS,
for 2020 the chosen motorcycle is the new BMW F 850 GS. Introduced in
2018, the F 850 GS is the natural successor to the F 800 GS that has
been introduced in 2008.
The F 850 GS is perfectly suited to the New Zealand environment as
with its off-road capable 21”/17” wheel combination and perky 70Kw
(95hp) motor it has the agility to suit the incredibly varied and
often technical terrain the two islands offer.
The BMW F 850 GS is a thoroughly modern middleweight adventure
motorcycle, building on the strengths of the F 800 GS while bringing
all the latest technological advances. The GS Trophy riders will come
to enjoy the bike’s latest electronic aids such as latest generation
ABS, riding modes and automatic stability control, while also
appreciating the integrity of the unique monocoque bridge design
frame, the security of the cross-spoke aluminium wheels with tubeless
tyres, not forgetting the authority and character of the new 90º
offset parallel twin motor which is now both stronger and smoother
than its predecessor.
The date.
Equally importantly, BMW Motorrad now revealed the ‘when’: The
seventh edition of the International GS Trophy will take place on the
dates February
9–16, 2020. As in Mongolia, that’s an eight-day
competition to account for the distances and sheer logistics involved
in this edition.
The route.
The route of the International GS Trophy is always a closely guarded
secret, but in this instance we can reveal two of the most significant
aspects, as this will only further whet the appetites of the GS Trophy hopefuls:
1. For the first time the route is a one-way journey. (All previous
events have been a circuit with the same start and end point).
2. The route is one-way on account it will take in both New Zealand’s
North and South Island! For anyone who knows New Zealand this is
excellent news as the two islands offer very different environments
and terrains – and neither is to be missed!
New teams.
Yes, they keep coming. Since our last bulletin the Netherlands and
Argentina have entered the fray! This means in 2020 we have first time
entrants from the Middle East, North Africa and the Netherlands while
a Nordic team makes a comeback to the event.
Follow the Trails.
As before, in Thailand (2016) and Mongolia (2018), the incredibly
successful ‘Follow The Trails’ tours will be available after the Int.
GS Trophy has concluded. This is an opportunity for every GS fan to
experience the route and the ride that the competitors followed. The
motorcycles are the original GS Trophy machines used in the event and
the trails are exactly those the event followed. The tours are led by
BMW Motorrad offroad instructors, there’s a support team, medics and
all accommodation plus food and petrol is included. More details on
the ‘Follow The Trails’ tours will be announced soon.
International GS Trophy 2020: website and video online.
As with each edition, a dedicated website has been created to help
participants find out more and to find connections to their local
qualifiers. As well, this website is a destination for all GS
enthusiasts wanting to know more about this fascinating event and to
follow – and get to know – the riders who qualify and participate in it.
Also, an exciting new teaser video has been created for this edition,
highlighting the look and feel of New Zealand for the Int. GS Trophy
Oceania 2020: www.gstrophy.com
You will find further press material on BMW motorcycles and BMW
Motorrad rider equipment in the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.
In case of queries please contact:
Liane Drews, Communications BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49 170-227-2147,
Liane.Drews@bmw.de
Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications Motorrad
Tel.: +49 151
601 57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.de
Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de
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