BMW's GS Trophy, Tunisia!
Posted: 21 Aug 2008 22:00
Guys, sorry I haven't been hanging out here since my brief visits around the time of our April Fool's ride. If you missed Troy's picture in Adventure Motorcycle/Dual Sport News, be sure to check out back issues. It'll make a great dartboard!
Also, I have been asked by BMW North America to share some news with you about their upcoming GS Trophy Competition in Tunisia this October. If you haven't heard of the GS Trophy, here's what it's all about. As most of you know, BMW is releasing their new F800GS this fall. To showcase the launch, they have arranged a competition between Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and the United States. To date, I have been fortunate enough to hang until the final cut which will be this coming Thrusday in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Below is the official BMW press release on the competition.
Bill Dragoo
Norman, Oklahoma
One final test remains for USA GS hopefuls
After a lengthy selection process, BMW Motorrad USA is close to revealing its line-up of three riders to represent the United States at the inaugural international GS Trophy event this October.
The prospect of a week-and-a-half riding in Tunisia on F 800 GS bikes with teams from Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain captured the imagination of GS fans throughout the United States, and nearly 100 riders made the first stage of the application process to be considered for Team USA. These riders were subject to an email ‘mental test’ specifically designed by a dedicated BMW team of moto-psychologists to determine whether potential participants had the right credentials to progress through to the next stage.
From the 96 initial applications – in many cases from superlative off-road riders with great experience and skill – the team selectors chose 20 semi-finalists that demonstrated the required levels of riding excellence, teamwork, character, physical fitness, a true love of the GS segment – and of course, a sense of humour under conditions of great stress.
All 20 successful riders were informed separately that they had advanced to the next round, while the 76 who didn't ‘make the cut’ will receive a gift from BMW Motorrad to say thanks for participating and to encourage them to try again in 2009. The 20 International GS Trophy semi-finalists that remained were then subjected to further tests and all four judges commented that the process was quite difficult and took a lot of time to determine a final shortlist. The six chosen riders would then be invited at BMW’s expense to participate in further testing at the BMW Performance Center, in Spartanburg, SC, on August 28.
This, final test, will decide which of the ‘Spartanburg Six’ (as they have become known) will become the ‘Tunisia Three’ who will go on to represent the United States in the International GS Trophy in October. As BMW Motorrad USA’s Laurence Kuykendall explains, just getting down to the final six riders has been an extremely difficult task for his team:
“We’ve not only had many excellent riders to chose from, but the criteria was complex too, including not only riding ability and experience, but more intangible qualities like teamwork, personality, physical and psychological fitness, and the capability to spread the BMW faith. It would have been equally easy to end up with six other, equally deserving names, as the standard was so high, but as a consolation, there is always next year, when we will require new riders for the 2009 GS Trophy – wherever it might be!”
The six riders who will be evaluated at BMW’s Performance Center in Spartanburg on 28 August (to determine the final three) come from all over the USA and include Jason Adams from New York; Bill Dragoo from Oklahoma; Kevan Harder from California; Brad Hendry from Colorado; Jim Stoddard from New York and Brienne Thompson from California.
One of the ‘Spartanburg Six’ is Bill Dragoo, who is delighted at his selection and at the age of 52, will be the oldest competitor: “I feel blessed to make the cut as one of the six finalists for BMW’s GS Trophy in Tunisia and can’t wait to compete alongside four other men and one woman in Spartanburg, South Carolina. For me, this is the chance of a lifetime and should I succeed at Spartanburg, it will be the culmination of a lifetime of preparation for just such a challenge. It is a chance for one last hurrah, (hopefully not quite the last) and to represent the United States in a World Class event. I appreciate the prayers and support of my friends across Oklahoma and beyond.”
Also, there is a female competitor among the ‘Spartanburg 6’. Brienne Thomson is a highly competitive young motorcyclist, who has racing experience both on- and off-road. She also competes quite successfully in triathlon events.
Brienne Thomson: “The ability to ride with the best at BMW Performance Center on a brand new BMW F 800 GS is going to be an experience – an everlasting memory – no matter what happens. I’m honoured to be a part of the GS Trophy. As the only female in this high-ranking group, I will do my best to be an inspiration to other females to be involved in this sport of adventure. I am fully prepared to go to Tunisia; I have been to Africa before and I can’t wait to go back.”
We wish the ‘Spartanburg 6’ much success on their technical trials at the BMW Performance Center on 28 August.
Also, I have been asked by BMW North America to share some news with you about their upcoming GS Trophy Competition in Tunisia this October. If you haven't heard of the GS Trophy, here's what it's all about. As most of you know, BMW is releasing their new F800GS this fall. To showcase the launch, they have arranged a competition between Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and the United States. To date, I have been fortunate enough to hang until the final cut which will be this coming Thrusday in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Below is the official BMW press release on the competition.
Bill Dragoo
Norman, Oklahoma
One final test remains for USA GS hopefuls
After a lengthy selection process, BMW Motorrad USA is close to revealing its line-up of three riders to represent the United States at the inaugural international GS Trophy event this October.
The prospect of a week-and-a-half riding in Tunisia on F 800 GS bikes with teams from Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain captured the imagination of GS fans throughout the United States, and nearly 100 riders made the first stage of the application process to be considered for Team USA. These riders were subject to an email ‘mental test’ specifically designed by a dedicated BMW team of moto-psychologists to determine whether potential participants had the right credentials to progress through to the next stage.
From the 96 initial applications – in many cases from superlative off-road riders with great experience and skill – the team selectors chose 20 semi-finalists that demonstrated the required levels of riding excellence, teamwork, character, physical fitness, a true love of the GS segment – and of course, a sense of humour under conditions of great stress.
All 20 successful riders were informed separately that they had advanced to the next round, while the 76 who didn't ‘make the cut’ will receive a gift from BMW Motorrad to say thanks for participating and to encourage them to try again in 2009. The 20 International GS Trophy semi-finalists that remained were then subjected to further tests and all four judges commented that the process was quite difficult and took a lot of time to determine a final shortlist. The six chosen riders would then be invited at BMW’s expense to participate in further testing at the BMW Performance Center, in Spartanburg, SC, on August 28.
This, final test, will decide which of the ‘Spartanburg Six’ (as they have become known) will become the ‘Tunisia Three’ who will go on to represent the United States in the International GS Trophy in October. As BMW Motorrad USA’s Laurence Kuykendall explains, just getting down to the final six riders has been an extremely difficult task for his team:
“We’ve not only had many excellent riders to chose from, but the criteria was complex too, including not only riding ability and experience, but more intangible qualities like teamwork, personality, physical and psychological fitness, and the capability to spread the BMW faith. It would have been equally easy to end up with six other, equally deserving names, as the standard was so high, but as a consolation, there is always next year, when we will require new riders for the 2009 GS Trophy – wherever it might be!”
The six riders who will be evaluated at BMW’s Performance Center in Spartanburg on 28 August (to determine the final three) come from all over the USA and include Jason Adams from New York; Bill Dragoo from Oklahoma; Kevan Harder from California; Brad Hendry from Colorado; Jim Stoddard from New York and Brienne Thompson from California.
One of the ‘Spartanburg Six’ is Bill Dragoo, who is delighted at his selection and at the age of 52, will be the oldest competitor: “I feel blessed to make the cut as one of the six finalists for BMW’s GS Trophy in Tunisia and can’t wait to compete alongside four other men and one woman in Spartanburg, South Carolina. For me, this is the chance of a lifetime and should I succeed at Spartanburg, it will be the culmination of a lifetime of preparation for just such a challenge. It is a chance for one last hurrah, (hopefully not quite the last) and to represent the United States in a World Class event. I appreciate the prayers and support of my friends across Oklahoma and beyond.”
Also, there is a female competitor among the ‘Spartanburg 6’. Brienne Thomson is a highly competitive young motorcyclist, who has racing experience both on- and off-road. She also competes quite successfully in triathlon events.
Brienne Thomson: “The ability to ride with the best at BMW Performance Center on a brand new BMW F 800 GS is going to be an experience – an everlasting memory – no matter what happens. I’m honoured to be a part of the GS Trophy. As the only female in this high-ranking group, I will do my best to be an inspiration to other females to be involved in this sport of adventure. I am fully prepared to go to Tunisia; I have been to Africa before and I can’t wait to go back.”
We wish the ‘Spartanburg 6’ much success on their technical trials at the BMW Performance Center on 28 August.
