BMW Motorrad's tenth GS Trophy begins in Romania with 13 teams and 30 riders
The tenth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy has started in Romania's Carpathian mountains, where 13 teams and 30 riders face six days and around 1,500 challenging kilometres of adventure riding.
- 13
- 30
- around 1,500 km
- 6 days
What Happened
The tenth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy got underway in Romania, with competitors camped on the edge of the village of Colțești, overlooked by a 13th century clifftop fortress deep in the Transylvanian region. The riders are encircled by the Carpathian mountains and some of Europe's few great undisturbed natural forests, home to thousands of grey wolves and brown bears. Dense forests, gravel roads, river crossings and mountainous ascents and descents will challenge them in the coming days. The event also serves to showcase the on- and off-road capabilities of the latest GS Trophy Competition Bike, the BMW R 12 G/S.
Participants completed registration and medical checks and were individually fitted for their protective and riding equipment, had SENA communication systems integrated, and took delivery of their personalised BMW R 12 G/S motorcycles.
A welcome dinner and team introductions set the stage for the start.
The tenth edition of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy got underway.
Six days and around 1,500 challenging kilometres through the Carpathians, roughly half of the route running off paved roads.
The BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy is emphatically not a race: outright speed, fastest times and individual victory are not what define success. Instead it is a shared adventure that rewards precise riding, sound judgement, endurance and, above all, the ability to work as a team, with participants supporting one another and solving practical and intellectual challenges together. Teams collect points during special tests, which are designed to showcase well-rounded adventure-riding skills rather than racing performance, and daily challenges test riding, practical and mental skills. The tenth edition is held under the motto "Back to Basics", with demanding rides through mountain and forest terrain, teamwork and the certainty that the unexpected is always just around the corner.
“The GS Trophy brings together people from all around the world who share a common passion: adventure, adventure riding, and the BMW GS. It is far more than a competition. It is about team spirit, international friendships, and shared experiences that continue to resonate long after the event has ended. For me, this unique sense of community is what truly defines the magic of the GS Trophy.”
- Eight three-person male teams: Team Germany, Team Europe, Team Ukraine, Team International, Team South Korea, Team Japan, Team China and Team Australia.
- Five two-person female teams: Team Germany Women, Team Europe Women, Team International Women, Team China Women and Team Australia Women.
- In total 30 riders from 13 nations, produced by eight national or regional qualifiers.
- In Team Europe Women, Chrissie Harcourt took the place originally won at the International Qualifier in Germany by Fionn Griffiths, who gave it up so Harcourt could experience an international event.
- Returning or previously connected names include Remy Zwemmer (Team Europe), who rode the 2022 Int GS Trophy in Albania, and Aloisio Frazão (Team International), a finalist in the 2012 Int GS Trophy who now works with BMW Motorrad Brazil.
around 1,500km
Covered over six days through the Carpathians, with roughly half of the route off paved roads.
Host country Romania captivates with its rich traditions, fascinating history and warm hospitality, which the organisers describe as a far more authentic experience than the fantasy imagery shaped by Bram Stoker's Dracula. Immediately following the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2026 Romania, BMW Motorrad will once again offer "Follow the Trails" tours, allowing customers to follow in the footsteps of the competition on the original GS Trophy motorcycles. Full information about the event is available on the dedicated GS Trophy website.
Why this matters
The GS Trophy is BMW Motorrad's flagship international adventure-riding event and a showcase for the latest GS Trophy Competition Bike, the BMW R 12 G/S, on dense forest, gravel and mountain terrain. This year's field brings together 30 riders from 13 nations, with five two-person female teams competing alongside eight three-person male teams.
Terms in This Story
- KOL
- Short for key opinion leader: an influential person, often with a social media following, whom a brand works with to reach an audience.
- special tests
- Scored challenges within a competition that assess specific riding or practical skills rather than outright speed.
- adventure riding
- A style of motorcycling over mixed surfaces, from paved roads to gravel and trails, usually over long distances.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.