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Scene: BMW GS Challenge
Scene: BMW GS Challenge
Where planing takes place …
Paddling, climbing, crossing, trialing, screwing, navigating and driving: BMW invited customers to a test of strength and, after a two-day endurance test, chose the three best GS riders in Germany.
Rolf Henniges
08/28/2008
There are said to have been candidates who wrinkled their noses and drove home without having achieved anything. And some, it is said, simply hung up while calling the challenge hotline. Because the friendly ladies on the other end of the line only knew the truth: “Yes, you should expect to scratch your motorcycle during the exercises.” And pay an entry fee of 250 euros for it?
A little research could have cleared up procrastinators: A GS trophy has been held for years in Canada, Spain and South Africa. The Africans in particular see their bikes as tools rather than pieces of jewelry. Why the idea of a sporting competition among GS drivers has not yet been implemented in the country where the legend was born is a good question. But the answer comes now: with the “BMW Motorrad GS-Challenge Germany 08”. A two-day endurance test designed to filter out the best three from a maximum of 200 participants. These are then measured by the “International GS Trophy” from October 15 to 24 in Tunisia with the best representatives from Italy, Spain, Japan and the USA. BMW never tires of emphasizing that the Challenge is not a race and, in fact, active racing drivers are excluded from participating. Obviously, others don’t feel invited either. Instead of the possible 200 candidates, only 82 appear on July 31, 2008 for the drivers’ briefing in Enduropark Hechlingen near Donauworth.
The starting field presents itself as colorful as floral dresses from the flower power era. No wonder: BMW has been producing cross-country cows for almost 30 years. Almost the entire model range is lined up in the shadow of the Hechlinger kettle: from the inglorious R 65 G / S to terrifying HPN desert ships to modern four-valve boxers and the young F 800 GS with in-line twin. After a two-hour briefing, the drivers are allowed to figure out their strategy. The rules are simple: Everyone assigns themselves to a group by self-assessment: Blue – beginners. Red – seasoned. Black – experts. The color determines the severity of the driving tests to be completed. There are 13 unoccupied checkpoints in the outback of northern Bavaria. A kind of scavenger hunt in which birch trees have to be counted, dates read or verses written down. Nothing difficult. At first glance.
Checkpoints and courses
BMW
Teamwork required: In the competition, 6 lone fighters had to form and row an R 1200 GS around a buoy on the Hahnenkammsee.
There are also two manned checkpoints, where (in the African style) gasoline is to be pumped by ball valve pumps and valve covers are to be fitted. And two special tasks based on teamwork: racing with two rafts, on each of which a 1200 GS has to be maneuvered around a buoy, plus climbing in a high ropes course. Long faces on the eve of the start: Many people think of children’s birthdays. The pitfalls, however, lie in the detail. On the very first day, many of them unwind up to 500 kilometers of asphalt in order to check out the scattered checkpoints. Clever navigation and maneuvering are required because the drivers have to be available for the team exercises at a set time. If the rafting requires nothing more than pure muscle use, then climbing will put your courage to the test. You have to conquer a wall that towers up around ten meters with enduro / cross boots. And so that the climber does not forget that it is an enduro challenge, he is allowed to transport an off-road tire at the same time, which does not make balancing over wobbly ropes and narrow beams at a dizzying height.
The driving exercises also contained surprises. After light rain, some struggled with slippery tree roots in Enduropark Hechlingen, on the motocross course in nearby Warching, a steep up and downhill section separated the wheat from the chaff. It turned out to be particularly selective “black” Trial course: at the steering stop through the tightest turns, over pointed hills and angular ledges. Damp grass added flavor. If you haven’t had enough, you could get more points by rounding off the terrain in Warching or Hechlingen. Ultimately, the 20 drivers with the biggest points accounts in the knockout system fought for victory. On an identical F 800 GS and to thunderous applause from the rest of the participants. With Florian Dietrich in first place, followed by Dirk Remmel and Alexander Metayer, Germany will be well represented at the GS Trophy in Tunisia.
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