A three-member team of BMW GS riders from India are on their way to Mongolia to participate in the International GS Trophy from June 3, 2018. Winston Lee from Mumbai, Suprej Venkat from Coimbatore and Sanket Shanbhag from Satara were chosen from over 40 riders to represent India at the International GS Trophy. The sixth edition of the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy will have the best BMW GS riders from all around the world competing for the coveted prize, riding 2,000 km across Mongolia from June 3-10, 2018.
For Team India, it has been a tough few months since their selection at the International GS Trophy Qualifiers, which were held in Goa in October 2017. The three-member team has worked hard, training individually, as well as a team for the big event which kicks off from June 3.
The three-member team has been training hard since the qualifiers in October 2017
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"We've trained hard for the GS Trophy finals and looking forward to this wonderful experience in Mongolia. Since the time we qualified in October, we have been training on physical fitness and also doing a lot of trail riding and practising different manoeuvres with the bike," said Winston.
His teammates echo similar sentiments and months of training have now culminated in the team heading to Ulan Bator for the big event.
Suprej Venkat in action during training for the International GS Trophy in Mongolia
"I've been working out hard in the gym for the past few months, but don't know what to expect in Mongolia. After being selected in October to represent India, I shipped my bike over to Africa and did a 10,000 km ride in December and January. And after coming back, been riding at my farmhouse every weekend. The excitement has turned to nervousness now with all the wishes flowing in and the expectations from friends and the riding community. Now, just want to ride now and really looking forward to riding in the desert and staying in the Gers," said Suprej.
"I've been training hard since the qualifiers and I'm super confident of performing well during the event," said Shanbhag.
The International GS Trophy isn't a race but a team competition, pitching the GS-riding teams from around the world against each other in a series of challenges, and not all involve riding. The successful team will be respectful to their machinery and understanding of teammates. This year's event is the sixth edition of the GS Trophy, with the previous editions taking place in South East Asia (Thailand) in 2016, North America (Canada) in 2014, South America (Chile, Argentina) in 2012, South Africa (SA, Swaziland, Mozambique) in 2010 and North Africa (Tunisia) in 2008.
