'Tunisia Three' selected at BMW Performance Center

From 96 initial applications that became a shortlist of 20 riders, before being reduced to a final six hopefuls, three BMW riders have now been selected to represent the United States in the inaugural BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy after a gruelling day of "Survivor-style" competition.

The three successful finalists were selected, based on technical, leadership and teamwork skills at BMW's Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on 28 August. Brad Hendry, of Thornton, Colorado; Jim Stoddard, of Middlegrove, New York; and Jason Adams, of Rosendale, New York - the 'Tunisia Three' - will participate in BMW Motorrad's first International GS Trophy motorcycle competition that will be held in Tunisia, from 15-24 October. The remaining three of the 'Spartanburg Six' - Kevan Harder, of Paso Robles, California; Bill Dragoo, of Norman, Oklahoma; and Brienne Thompson, of San Diego, California - will serve as substitutes.

The 'Spartanburg Six' who went to the BMW Performance Center
in South Caroline for the GS Trophy selection trials

In Spartanburg, no less than seven judges (including guest judges Jim Hyde from Raw Hyde Adventures and Peter Fischer, one of the lead instructors from the BMW Enduro Park at Hechingen) evaluated the riding, leadership and teamwork skills of the six riders in a series of gruelling challenges, including an offset slalom course, circle drill, controlled ascents and descents, uphill slalom, sand recovery, sand relay, team trail challenge, barrel race and high-speed manoeuvring. Competition was tough and intense but, as BMW Motorrad USA's Laurence Kuykendall explains, the chosen three are relishing the opportunity of travelling to Africa to compete next month.

"We've had such a high calibre of riders enter that it was always going to be difficult to have to pick just three, especially since riding skill is only one of the things we are looking for," he said. "The interest in the International GS Trophy is high in the States especially with the new F 800 GS arriving at dealers over here. Now these riders have a chance to try one for themselves and where better than Tunisia? We know that all the contestants are rooting for Team USA and that Brad, Jim and Jason will do us proud."

With BMW Motorrad USA, Germany, Japan and Spain having already chosen the riders for their respective GS Trophy teams, all that now remains is for the Italian team to be selected. Italy's national 'GS' challenge will take place on 20-21 September at the BMW Motorrad Italia GS Academy in Tuscany. A shortlist of 80 riders will be invited to the national elimination trials, from which just three riders will go to Tunisia to represent their country in the main event.

the international GS Trophy logo.

Accompanying all the chosen riders from the five countries will be a selection of journalists from each of the national markets, who will also be competing in the International GS Trophy and reporting on this exciting event, which will be featured in magazines worldwide, on television and on the internet.

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, from 15-24 October. The competition is not a race, but a lengthy and challenging ride, both on- and off-road, through the rugged countryside of Tunisia on new F 800 GS bikes. The event will include numerous tests in individual riding skills and group teamwork to overcome natural and manmade obstacles in the course of the ride. For more information, please visit www.bmw-motorrad.com.