BMW GS Eco Skills Challenge rider, wild card entrant for International GS Trophy national qualifiers

• Winner of the GS Eco Skills Challenge given wild card entry to 2016 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy
• Riders raise funds for community projects and schools in Maselspoort

Maselspoort. More than 600 owners of BMW off-road motorcycles participated in the annual BMW GS Eco this past weekend.  The event was held just outside of Bloemfontein at the Maselspoort Resort in Maselspoort, Bloemfontein, from 11 to 14 September.

BMW GS motorcycle riders, who were made up of trained professionals and hobby riders, had a choice of tar and dirt routes to demonstrate their riding capabilities. Riders also had the opportunity to put their technical skills to the test in the annual GS Eco Skills Challenge, which was divided into two categories, intermediate and advanced.

This year’s GS Eco Skills Challenge advanced winner, John Gray, was the recipient of a special prize – a wild card entry to the 2016 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy national qualifiers. Alex Baraka, General Manager for BMW Motorrad South Africa says that the prize was introduced in order to give more South African GS customers the opportunity to enter the illustrious event. “South Africa is one of the most important GS markets in the world. It is the only market where we sell more GS Adventures, which makes it unique. Our customers have also indicated that they would like to have the opportunity to qualify for the GS Trophy.”

 As a wild card entrant Gray will not have to participate in the provincial qualifying rounds, to be introduced in 2015, for the 2016 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy team. He automatically qualifies for the national qualifying round that decides who will make up the South African team.

Baraka says that the BMW GS Eco is very unique because of its magnitude. “To have over 600 riders come together is amazing. It shows the enthusiasm our customers have for this brand.”

BMW Motorrad and participating riders also raised money for the following community projects and schools in Maselspoort:

• Industrial washing machine valued at R5,500 for the Bolokanang Youth Centre
• R5,500 for Towers of Hope
• R10 000 raised through Stationery for Africa, an NGO run by two BMW riders that aims to make a difference to children’s education by providing stationery, to selected schools in Maselspoort.

-Ends-

For any media questions regarding this press release, please contact BMW South Africa’s Group Communications and Public Affairs Division as follows:

Ms Thando Pato
Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad) 

BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Tel: +27-12-522-2070
Cell: +27-72-232-5624
Mail: Thando.Pato@bmw.co.za
Web:  http://www.bmw.co.za

About The BMW Group:

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2013, the BMW Group sold approximately 1.963 million cars and 115,215 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2013 was € 7.91 billion on revenues amounting to approximately € 76.06 billion. As of 31 December 2013, the BMW Group had a workforce of 110,351 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

www.bmwmotorrad.co.za

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup (BMWMotorradSA)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup (@BMWMotorradSA)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview (BMWMotorradSA)