THREE MOTORCYCLISTS SELECTED TO REPRESENT U.S.A.
IN BMW MOTORRAD INTERNATIONAL GS TROPHY

"Tunisia Three" Selected at BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, S.C.

GS Trophy Rider Brad Hendry of Thornton, Colorado

GS Trophy Rider Jason Adams of Rosendale, New York

GS Trophy Rider Jim Stoddard of Middlegrove, New York

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 29, 2008. After a grueling day of "Survivor-style" competition of technical, leadership and teamwork skills at BMW's Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC, August 28, three motorcyclists were selected from a field of six to represent the United States in the inaugural BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy. Brad Hendry, of Thornton, CO; Jim Stoddard, of Middlegrove, NY; and Jason Adams, of Rosendale, NY - the "Tunisia Three" -- will compete in the international motorcycle competition in Tunisia, October 15-24. The remaining three of the "Spartanburg Six" -- Kevin Harder, of Paso Robles, CA; , Bill Dragoo, of Norman, OK; and Brienne Thompson, of San Diego, CA -- will serve as alternates.

In Spartanburg, four judges evaluated the riding, leadership and teamwork skills of the six riders in a series of grueling 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 maneuvering.

The Road to Spartanburg - The Selection Process

The prospect of a week-and-a-half riding in Tunisia on F800GS 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 were then invited at BMW's expense to participate in further testing at the BMW Performance Center, in Spartanburg, SC, on August 28.

This final test determined 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 BMW Motorrad 2008 International GS Trophy

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, October 15 - 24. 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 F800GS 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.

A team of six riders will be selected to compete for the GS Trophy from each of the following BMW Motorrad markets: the United States, Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Japan. Three of the six riders will be journalists, while the remaining three will be GS owners selected by BMW Motorrad in each market.

The three GS owners selected to represent the United States in the 2008 International GS Trophy Competition will be required to report on their experiences. Therefore, writing, as well as riding, ability will be a criterion used to choose the GS Trophy competitors.

Congratulations to all of the participants!!

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports Activity vehicles and X6 Sport Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorcycles.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address:
www.press.bmwgroup.com.
Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.

This feature originally appeared in September 2008 - Updated: 09/02/08

Updated on: 09/02/08 at 15:09 CDT