change a tyre in the quickest time possible, before sub-
mitting their best photo of the day. Yes, there’s a photo
competition attached to the GS Trophy. It was a tiring day,
yet many didn’t want to see it end.
Some riders took advantage of the day to source po-
tential retirement properties, such was the beauty of the
Mongolian landscape.
“We’ve had a good day – we’ve maintained our consis-
tent averageness in the special tests! But the highlight of
the day was when we rode into some amazing views just
after lunch,” explained Team UK’s Craig Keyworth.
“This was what we were expecting from Mongolia. I
even picked my spot for where I’d build my house if I were
ever to move to Mongolia! It was so spectacular that today
was the slowest I’ve ridden in all the five days – so I could
take it all in.”
South Africa remained on top with 195 points, while
Latin America moved into second with 139. Korea con-
tinued to hang on to a podium place while Team USA had
fought back to fourth place.
For the first time in the history of the GS Trophy, a day’s
running had to be replanned and rerouted, an outbreak
of foot and mouth disease meant the original course was
no longer available. So, Day 6 started under different cir-
cumstances. The day was almost entirely run on bitumen
highways.
The days SP still went ahead with a time trial with a dif-
ference. Each rider had to match the times set by the first
rider, and how close they came to it was how they were
scored. It proved to be challenging.
Back on the highway the riders made it to their over-
night camp with plenty of time to spare, using this extra
time to experience some of Mongolia. A visit to the 16th
century Erdene Zuu (Buddhist) Monastery where as many
as 1500 monks once lived. Local stores were visited, even
the chance to get a ‘real’ coffee and talk with the locals,
many of whom were excited to see ‘exotic’ bikes like the
BMW GS.
It had been a great experience for the competitors to
take time out and meet with the locals and share their cul-
ture, but now it was time for more competition and to-
gether all rode in unison back to the nights camp for an
archery tournament.
Amongst plenty of laughs, Team India found them-
selves in third place as a member scored two direct hits …
on the wrong target. While everyone revelled in the mer-
riment, it became apparent that the days schedule being
changed had given everyone a chance to see what the GS
range of BMW Motorcycles is all about, exploring differ-
ent cultures and learning from the differences.
Team USA continued their fight back and were now in
second place, 65 points behind South Africa. Korea fell
from the podium which now had Mexico and Latin Amer-
ica fighting for third. Impressively Team Ausamerica had
shot up into eleventh and were just outside a top ten fin-
ish, this had happened as the all-female team had been
the overall winners for the day. The first time this has
happened in GS Trophy history.
The penultimate day, as the riders were back on the
trails and piste for Day 7. Beautiful scenery, highlighted
by beautiful riding, no one could ask for more.
The days competitive highlight came in the first chal-
lenge, a slow race for teams. The French, inventive as
ever, braced their bikes together by placing the rider’s
feet on each other’s crash bars. It meant they could ride
extremely slow but balancing each other, ingenious team-
work.
Not to be outdone, they repeated their winning ways by
taking the days second challenge; riding two-up around a
trials course, holding three litres of fuel. The course had
to completed three times with each team member riding
and being pillion.
Team USA continued their impressive fightback and
took as many points as possible from South Africa, who
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