Chiang Mai to host SEA's first international adventure bike race

By CARSIFU | 22 February 2016


CYBERJAYA: The fifth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, the Southeast Asia 2016 edition will take place from Feb 28 to March 5 2016 in Northern Thailand’s province of Chiang Mai.

57 riders in 19 teams representing 25 nations will compete in a week of adventure riding, special tests and teamwork challenges.

The first GS Trophy to be hosted in Asia, the competition will engage competitors with a different kind of terrain and obstacles compared with previous competitions in Tunisia in 2008, Southern Africa in 2010, South America in 2012 and Canada in 2014.

Both the competitions in the past in Canada and South America typically featured long trails through wilderness or mountainous regions.

BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2016 Qualifier
BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2016 Qualifier


This time around, competitors can expect a slower pace but far more technical challenges with narrow, dry and dusty single enduro-type trail tracks.

As such, competitors will be travelling a shorter distance over the week, but as any off-road rider will know, when speeds are low and the riding technical, long days in the saddle are sure to follow.

Along the way, the competitors will need to take part in a series of endurance challenges that are designed to exercise their riding and navigation skills, their knowledge and ability to survive as a team.

Representing Malaysia for the very first time at this year’s BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy is Mohd Faizal Sukree.

Faizal will be riding together with Peerapat Woratham from Thailand and Tommy Lee from Singapore as representatives of Team South East Asia.

Each competitor will be riding a specially-prepared 2016 BMW R1200 GS motorcycles.

The motorcycles are equipped with an aluminium endure engine guard, steel crash bars, valve cover guards, headlight guard, wider endure footrests, adjustable footbrake lever and a safety screw for the oil filler neck.

The motorcycles will also feature Metzeler Karoo 2 Tyres as well as Original BMW Motorrad Accessories.

Riders will also be receiving a special bag, which contains a vast selection of quality clothing and technical equipment necessary for their imminent adventure in Southeast Asia from the dedicated BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy organisation team in Munich.

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