BMW records second best annual sales figures; announces 2020 GS Trophy for Albania
BMW Motorrad has posted the second-best annual sales figures in its history, despite the challenges of a year in which COVID-19 turned the world inside out. The company delivered 169,272 motorcycles and scooters to customers worldwide (+3.4%); 39,673 of them in Q4 (+3.8%).
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| Albania, "one of the last still largely untouched off-road paradises in Europe". |
In other news, the company has announced that its 2022 International GS Trophy will return to Europe - being staged under the "Explore the unexpected" motto in Albania in late summer 2022; the 8th edition of the GS Trophy.
Described as "one of the last still largely untouched off-road paradises in Europe", 22 international teams and six international women's teams will be selected in the coming months, with qualification events having already been confirmed for Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Latin America, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, South East Asia, South Korea, United Kingdom and USA - the Chinese team 2020 has received a wildcard because it could not participate in New Zealand in 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions in force at the time.
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| Following the Roland Sands dragster special and the R 18 conversion by 'Blechmann' (Bernhard Naumann), this latest BMW custom R 18 in its "SoulFuel" series is "Spirit of Passion", by Dirk Oehlerking of Kingston Custom, Gelsenkirchen. |
In addition to 'Oceania' in 2020, previous editions have been staged in 2016 in South East Asia (Thailand), 2014 in North America (Canada), 2012 in South America (Chile, Argentina), 2010 in South Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique) and 2008 in North Africa (Tunisia). In the current edition, 22 teams compete with 60 riders from all over the world. The field of riders is accompanied by the GS Trophy Marshals, media representatives, doctors, sponsors as well as a photo and film crew.
The GS Trophy is not a race but a team competition in which an international line-up of off-road enthusiasts compete together in various special stages. Right after the event, BMW Motorrad will once again be offering "Follow the Trails" tours, where customers can follow in the footsteps of the competition on original GS Trophy motorbikes.
