After rains yesterday and high winds overnight the day
started cool, barely 10oC for the 7.00 am start. So it was
on with rain jackets and set the heated grips to ‘2’ for
the GS riders. But by the end of the first 100km, on the
highway, the temperature had risen past 20o, on its way to
a high of 26oC.
The GS riders were at this point subjected to something
of a baptism of fire as they took to the trails for the
first time. These proved highly technical as the gravel
trails frequently, and often suddenly, degraded to deep,
loose sand. For some competitors this was a first
experience of sand riding – which demands a committed
riding technique. Consequently there were many ‘offs’ as
the competitors came to terms with the terrain.
While the trail was demanding – portent of a tough week
ahead – the scenery was truly breathtaking, ‘like the
surface of the moon’ was a common observation, as the
barren nature of this vast arid landscape made itself
felt. For much of the day there was no sign of
civilization save for the odd goat herder. In fact the
fauna was surprisingly plentiful, eagles were common,
probably feeding on the abundance of mice that run riot of
the semi-desert floor, as well the riders encountered
camels (the two-hump ‘dromedaries’), wild horses, goats
and the odd antelope.
Along the way – as if the trail wasn’t test enough – the
teams faced two special tests today. SP1, the Trial
Challenge saw the competitors tested on their machine
handling skills as they rode a tough loop through a rocky
outcrop while being hampered by deep sand. The object for
each rider being to complete the course as quick as
possible with fewest mistakes, time penalties accruing for
putting feet down and crashing or running outside the
course. Near the end of the day SP2, ‘Magic Cliffs’, was a
navigation exercise, completed on foot, where using a GPS
device the teams needed to navigate to four waypoints. At
each point, if successfully found, the teams would collect
letters to make a complete
word for bonus points. Sounds straightforward, only
the cliffs were 300 feet (100m) tall and the whole
exercise had a time limit of just 20 minutes.
The finish at Camp Tsagaan Survaga came 11 hours
after the start, and consequently was much welcomed.
Albeit this being the GS Trophy the competitors,
exhausted or not, still had to erect their tents,
check their bikes and make preparations for Day 2
Without question it had been a tough day – yet this
was, in the words of the course director, merely a
warm up.
The day’s winners:
Due to problems with the scoring system the day’s
results have been delayed and will now be announced
tomorrow morning before the start of the second
day’s competition.
Quotes:
Michael Hansel, Team Germany: “Coming into today we
were very apprehensive. We were right to be, after
the first hour we were plunged into the sand, a new
experience for me, and for the next hour it was very
tough until I had gained an understanding and a feel
for it. As well there was a lot of dust, if you ride
too close you can’t see what’s coming. But the
country is amazing. You crest one sand hill and you
see many more in all directions. It’s not desert as
there is gravel, sand and short grass – and animals,
these small mice that run about, plus the horses and
goats. It was a very nice ride.”
Jocelin Snow, Team Ausamerica: “What a morning!
After the highway we turned on to the trail, crested
a rise and it was sand and gravel hills for as far
as the eye could see – suddenly it all got very
real! It was my and Bettina (Nedel)’s first ride in
sand. We fell a few times, but we look at this way:
when we’re done on day
eight we’ll have this sand riding figured
out, kinda the way when you get to 78 you have
life figured…!”
Find all information about the BMW Motorrad
International GS Trophy 2018 Central Asia at
the dedicated website www.gstrophy.com.
Find press material on BMW motorcycle,
Original BMW Motorrad accessories and BMW
Motorrad rider equipment in the BMW Group
PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.
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