THREE MOTORCYCLISTS SELECTED TO REPRESENT U.S.A. IN BMW MOTORRAD INTERNATIONAL GS TROPHY
Source: BMW
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:45:48 PM
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"Tunisia Three: Selected at BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg,
S.C.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - September 2, 2008... Three motorcyclists were
selected from a field of six to represent the United States in the inaugural BMW
Motorrad International GS Trophy after a grueling day of "Survivor-style"
competition. The three finalists were selected based on technical, leadership
and teamwork skills at BMW's Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC, August 28.
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.
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Jason Adams of Rosendale, New York |
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Jim Stoddard of Middlegrove, New York |
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Brad Hendry of Thornton, Colorado |
The Road to Spartanburg - The Selection
Process
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
humor 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, as was the
decision 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
stated, "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 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.
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
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