2024 BMW GS Trophy Coverage

After the previous day’s mileage, the final day’s seemed like a drop in the bucket. A mere 50 kilometers would round out the 1,300 kilometer tour portion of the 2024 GS Trophy, taking place on the 40,000-acre property of Midgard that served as basecamp for the event. Although the distance was short, the ride would throw in terrain the competitors had not yet experienced from rocky two-track to steep ascents and descents that could prove to be just as challenging as the previous day’s obstacles. 

More than 400 kilometers awaited the 2024 GS Trophy competitors as they awoke in Swakopmund on day five of the event. The biggest challenge of the day would be maintaining focus during the dry, dusty desert blast back to basecamp on the penultimate day of the competition. Of course, that wouldn’t be the only challenge. The Trophy participants were greeted with stunning views as they made their way up Bosua pass – a nearly 5,700 foot thoroughfare that is one of the highest roads in the country – toward their first special of the day, the Leatt Push Challenge.

In an interesting turn of events, Team USA has been reinstated to the competition, only losing the chance to score points on the day the MRP rode with them. Likewise, the two teams from Benelux have now joined together to create a co-ed team with the remaining female competitor joining the two men to round out the team. Despite being down a day’s worth of points, our good ol boys hit the ground running on their way out of Spitzkoppe toward the first special test of the day, the Advantec Pull Challenge.

Team USA’s third day began with a total disqualification from the overall standings. Kirk Graydon, our competitor from South Carolina, began feeling ill during day two, making it into camp on fumes and eventually getting an IV and nausea medication to help relieve his symptoms. With no appetite and a shot from the doc to help him sleep, Graydon slowly started feeling better, but elected not to continue the GS Trophy alongside his teammates the following day due to safety concerns for himself and others.

The real challenge of the day though didn’t exist within timed and scored special tests. With Namibia experiencing an even drier season than normal, sand was on offer in every variety. From silty two-trackers to bottomless dry riverbeds, the only reprieve was the odd rocky section to gain a moment of traction before getting back to focusing on navigating these big machines through every type of sand.

Paired up with Team China for the day, Team USA was led out to the Namibian countryside by our Brazilian ride leader Aloisio alongside team China’s men’s team. After a quick rocky jeep trail, the teams were welcomed to their first challenge.

BMW saw it fit to invite the world’s media to Namibia ahead of the competitors to get setup, settled, and vetted. As I looked out the window while our plane descended toward Windhoek, I couldn’t help but to notice the similarity in terrain to the American west. In the shuttle toward camp, the sentiment was the same as we made our way north. We spent the afternoon getting medical checks, receiving on-site gear, and setting up the tents we would be living out of for the duration of the event.

Being that this is a fully supported event from BMW Motorrad Global, obviously BMW wants to curate and present this special challenge in a specific way. With various sponsors coming on board to be a part, I received a massive luggage bag with gear specific to this year’s Trophy – which is pretty cool. So cool in fact, I thought I’d give you all a glimpse into that bag to see what all of the competitors and journalists were sent in order to be prepared for Namibia.