This year, the GS Trophy goes to New Zealand for an eight days journey
The 2020 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy covers 2,400 km in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The event gathers 22 teams which will ride BMW F850GS for eight days.
The 2020 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy race is set to take place between February 9 – 16. The event will gather 22 teams from 25 nations, including four new teams and two International Female Teams.
The bikes – BMW F850GS
The German brand provided a total of 140 motorcycles for the 2020 GS Trophy. The model is the 2020 BMW F850GS and features a water-cooled parallel twin-cylinder engine with a 90-degree crank offset. The engine has 853cc, makes 95 hp at 8,250 rpm and a torque of 92 Nm at 6,250 rpm.
The motorcycle weighs 229 kg road-ready and features electronics like Enduro Pro mode, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Dynamic ESA, ABS Pro (with a turn off option), a quick-shifter, Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and riding modes (Rain/Road).
The 2020 BMW F850GS has a monocoque bridge-type frame with steel shell construction, upside-down telescopic fork, cast aluminium dual swing arm with central WAD spring strut, spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable and rebound damping adjustable. The motorcycle is fitted with a 15-litre fuel tank and a 21-inch front wheel.
The course – 2,400 km of adventure riding in eight days
The course has a total length of 2,400 km and will cover the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Around 60% of the route is off-road and has a lot of hilly and mountain landscapes.
The start is set in Rotorua, close to the centre of the North Island. It’s an area with active volcanic activity. The finish line will be in the alpine ski-resort of Queenstown in the South Island.
The New Zealand landscapes are often rainforests covered with glaciers and steppe-like vegetation combined with subtropical flora. Furthermore, the landscapes are characterized by high plateaus and mountain peaks with heights of over 3,000 meters. The riders will go through fjord landscapes, countless uplands and woodlands.
“New Zealand is the perfect offroad destination, it’s not only about the roads and trails, but the people here, with everyone you meet you discuss the off-road riding and they love it, you see it in their eyes. Everyone here is so supportive. So we have a great route awaiting and as ever we have that unique Int. GS trophy mix of riding and special stages, it’s going to be a brilliant ride,” said Chris Zimmerman, course director.
“I love the Int. GS Trophy, it’s a wonderful ride and so much fun, but what I like most is seeing the people connect. Every day the teams are mixed so they ride every time with new nationalities and they’ll have an adventurous experience together, which creates this bond and understanding.
Bringing in teams from North Africa and the Middle East this year is especially exciting, so we can honestly say we have riders from all over the world and all walks of life.
And this is the spirit of the GS, bringing diverse peoples and cultures together, learning about each other and discovering and enjoying nature, playing and adventuring. And all this is set in this most beautiful of countries – I know I’m looking forward to this as much as the participants,” stated Ralf Rodepeter, overall director of the BMW GS Trophy and head of brand & product at BMW Motorrad.
The Teams – four new teams and two International Female Teams
The 2020 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy has four new teams – Netherlands, Malaysia, North Africa and the Middle East. The event will also have two International Female Teams.
Other teams:
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
France
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Nordics
Russia
South Africa
Thailand
United Kingdom
USA
