The 2024 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy returns to Africa after 2008, when the first edition was held there. The journey spanned over 1,350km through Namibia, Africa astride the BMW R 1300 GS Trophy Competition, while competing against each other in tests of skill, endurance and teamwork. The event was held on September 15, 2024 and Team India finished 10th overall.
Day 1
The first day in Ai Aiba began with a tough 270km journey – 240km off-road and 30km on tarmac, featuring two special stages. The first challenge, at an abandoned copper mine, tested riders on a course with sand, steps, drops and tight turns, ending with a sprint to ring a bell. Afterwards, teams tackled a 200km journey to the second stage, which was a dry riverbed with deep sand and a marked course. By the end of the day, Team South Africa led the men’s category with 41 points, followed by Team Germany with 31. Team India tied for 11th with South Korea and Japan.
Team Japan led in the women’s category with 41 points, followed by Benelux and France with 37 and 36 points, respectively.
Day 2
Day 2 kicked off in Spitzkoppe, with riders leaving the dry grounds of Ai Aiba Reserve for a 180km off-road adventure that included two special stages. In the first stage, competitors had to hoist their motorcycles from one ledge to another using a ropeway. The second stage challenged riders to loop around a massive granite rock, and follow a bicycle trail back to the start. By the end of the day, standings in the men’s category remained unchanged.
In the women’s category, however, Germany caught up with Japan to tie for first place with 71 points, with Benelux and France close behind.
Day 3
The day began with a 45km ride from Spitzkoppe to the Omaruru riverbank, where riders faced three special stages. The first stage was a treasure hunt that was followed by a tyre repair challenge. In the third stage, riders tackled a trials course in deep sand in a timed relay format. By the end of Day 3, South Africa still led the men’s category, with Germany and the International Team close behind. Team India did very well on this day and surged into 5th place overall.
In the women’s category, the International Team took the lead, while France, Japan and Germany followed, separated by just three points.
Day 4
Day 4 saw riders embark on a 244km journey from Kleine Spitzkoppe to the coastal town of Swakopmund, with two special stages along the way. The first challenge required the riders to tow their teammate for 50 metres to simulate a bike having run out of fuel. The second challenge was a time trial where one rider would set off on a course with sharp turns and rock climbs, and the next rider would start as soon as he returns.
On this day, Germany had overtaken South Africa to claim the top spot in the men’s category, with the International Team in third. Team India, unfortunately, had a tough day with a small technical error, so no points were scored in one of the challenges dropping them to 10th overall.
In the women’s category, France surged into the lead, followed by Germany and Japan.
Day 5
On Day 5, contestants embarked on a 430km ride from the coast back to Midgard, where the adventure had originally begun. Although this wasn't the toughest day, it sure was the longest; teams had three special stages to cover too. The first stage required riders to push-start their bikes on a steep off-road downhill. The second challenge, at lunch time, tested their knowledge about BMW Motorrad's history and models with a questionnaire. The final challenge was a slow trial, where the goal was to complete a timed course as slowly as possible – any dabs or drops meant the time was stopped.
Germany extended its lead over South Africa, with Brazil climbing into the top three. Team India improved, moving up two spots to secure 8th place overall but were just 7 points away from third place. In the women’s category, France extended its lead while the International Team moved into second, pushing Germany down to third.
Day 6
The final day had a 50km stretch of steep, rocky trails before the final special challenge. This was the largest challenge of the event and featured multiple drills, including riding up steep sand banks and executing tight manoeuvres over broken terrain. Unfortunately, Team India got stuck on one of the sandy inclines that had been torn apart by previous teams and did not make it out in time.
At the end of it, Germany took the crown home in the Men’s category and International Team in the Women’s category. India finished 10th overall, which is the best performance by any Indian team since we started attending the GS Trophy in 2018.