had their worst day of the Trophy. It promised to be an
extremely close final day with 75 points available and USA
just 43 behind.
While many of the competitors began to reflect on what
had already been a great GS Trophy, many partied into the
night. It was summed up by Julie Maguire of Team Aus-
america, “For us yesterday was awesome. We enjoyed the
trial in the woods and we were really stoked to win that
jointly with Team USA. In the archery Bettina scored the
only bullseye of the challenge, and while Canada beat us
in that, it was enough for the overall day win which was
extremely exciting, hence we were dancing a lot when the
results came out!
“The week has been phenomenal, the people, the land-
scapes, the kids who would run up to us at the petrol sta-
tions, grinning their heads off, people hanging out the
window of their cars waving and flashing their lights as
they drove towards us! It’s been the adventure of a life-
time and so memorable for all three of us, our only low
has been losing Jamie our journalist to injury on day two.”
Breakfast at 5:30am, the final day of the 2018 GS Tro-
phy, promised to be tough. The riders away at 7am as they
took on 300km back to where it had all begun. Technical
conditions as ever, evidenced by a few falls, showing the
ride is never over until the destination is reached, sand
and gravel all the way.
Reaching Chingisiin Khuree, the riders faced their fi-
nal hurdle, the “Monster Trial”. Here all three team mem-
bers entered the extended challenge together and riding
against the clock rode over various banks, ditches and
along a dried-up river bed before taking on three sub-sec-
tions which further tested their bike handling skills.
These included a full-lock maze section and a GS Trophy
favourite, the ‘elephant turn’ where the riders must spin
turn their GS a full 180º.
The challenge was just that, yet South Africa remained
calm and took second place behind France, enough for
the leaders to remain on top. It was the second time that
South Africa has won the BMW Motorrad International
GS Trophy.
France’s result saw them come oh-so close to knocking
USA down to third, it was a great battle worthy of such a
great event.
Mark Dickinson said of his South Africa
team, “we trained as hard as we could
before we came to the event and
that has paid off over the
days and especial-
ly today in the
final tri-
TRAVERSE 32