We sent our contributing writer and photographer as the embedded journalist on the U.S. team for the 2012 BMW GS Trophy in South America, which was competing on a team of four against some 50 other riders from around the world.
Hathaway arrived in Chile earlier this week for the start of the six-day event. Teams were chosen through national qualifying events around the world; Hathaway reports that the competition is stiff and the route and special tests are very challenging. While it’s not a race, it is a serious competition with points awarded for special tests all the way down to things as simple as “Picture of Day” through voting on the www.gstrophy.com website (check the site to see if you can vote American!). The photo above was chosen by the U.S. team guys as one of the contest photos. That’s team rider Chad Yoshitomi schooling an unidentified non-American.
Here are a few updates from Hathaway, starting with the arrival day, November 24. Scroll down for a video he made during his prep and practice. You’ll see we sent not only a talented writer and photographer but a guy who can ride, too, using his extensive adventure-touring and dual-sport background to good effect.
Arrival Day
Team America: Hathaway (at left) kneeling next to Carlo Boffi, Jr., Ryan Frazier and Chad Yoshitomi behind.
“The four Team USA bikes, ready to roll. Two have zero kilometers on the odometer, two have 1 km. They’ll be more used by the end of the week.”
“Here is the route printed on the event shirt that was part of competitors’ care packages. Riding begins in Chile and loops through Argentina.”
Day 1
“Early morning fog on the river. The bikes weren’t this clean at the end of the day.”
“The first of 19 scored tests on the GS Trophy.”
Day 2
“One of the rafting time trials.”
Day 3
“A demanding day today, covering 300 mostly off-road miles and three physically demanding tests for points. Many competitors are exhausted; one of the Russian team members collapsed at the end of a grueling challenge, and the doctors declared him done for the day. Germany lead after today with 98 points, bumping France down to second. The U.S. moved up a place today into ninth with 71. With roughly 30 points up for grabs each day, a lot can still happen in the remaining four days. We’re camped tonight on the shore of beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi near Bariloche, Argentina.”
Day 4
A welcome rest in camp after a tough slog: “Germany leads with 152 points after a day that sent two competitors to the hospital. Both are solid, talented riders who had big crashes on the challenging motocross course, where every competitor was required to complete 20 clean laps. The Swiss rider will compete again tomorrow, but the Canadian who crashed isn’t so lucky. Four broken ribs and a punctured lung will keep him off of a motorcycle for quite a while. Team USA continues its steady climb toward the top of the standings: 13th on Day 1, 10th on Day 2, 9th on Day 3 and now 7th overall after Day 4 with 119 points.”
Hathway lives in the mountains of Southern California, taking to his local trails to get ready to attack South America. He’s adventure-toured extensively in the western U.S. and also rode his F650GS in Northern Africa.
