2024 GS Trophy Day 6 – The Final Challenge

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. 

Team UK and USA set off together out of camp and immediately into the rocky terrain surrounding the complex. The pace was relaxed and there was a feeling of melancholy mixed with elation and satisfaction amongst the competitors on this final day of the Trophy. The teams managed the rocky trails and soaked up the last challenging bits of terrain that would mark the close of their once in a lifetime experience onboard the R 1300 GS. Despite having the final challenge of the event in the second half of the day, the realization of the event’s pending culmination was on everyone’s minds and was evident on their dusty faces. 

After lunch back at camp, the teams assembled nearby to take on the final challenge, a riding test that involved all three riders taking on the course at the same time with each focused on a specific line, all culminating back at the starting gate in the quickest time possible. Team USA was up first after the women’s teams had a crack at the course. With only one or two bobbles, the Americans made it through with little drama earning an 8th place finish for the final stage of the event. Of course, having received zero points for day three due to the team not competing as a whole, this still left team USA with a severe deficit compared to their rivals in the overall. Although the team came in 15th out of 16 teams, the fact that they were more or less resigned to their fate so early on made for a less stressful event throughout the week.

Team Germany ended up taking the top spot of the podium followed by South Africa and then Brazil. For the ladies, the International team from Poland and Czechia landed on the top spot with Japan and France taking second and third.

Now that the event was wrapped, the only thing left to do was party, and party they did. After the official closing ceremony celebrating not only the competitors, but also the staff that undertook this logistical enigma, the band took the stage and music echoed long into the night as teams from all around the world got busy on the dance floor kicking up just as much dust as they had on the motorcycles with their fancy footwork.