MCN's GS Trophy diary: Day 8

Today’s win puts Team UK back in the top three

Stunning riding, river crossings, puncture repairs, dust and no less than three special stages defined day four of the BMW GS Trophy in Thailand today.

Starting and finishing in Mae Sariang, the day consisted of a 140km almost exclusively off-road loop that took the 19 international teams deep into the Thai jungle with the teams zig-zagging along and across a river at the bottom of a stunning tree lined canyon.

Within 20km of starting riding, team UK came to the first special stage. The challenge was that the three riders had to ride along the length of a river for approximately 150 meters, but while time was of the essence the three riders also had to look for small signs with words written on them, which had to be remembered and told to the marshal at the end of the stage. Team UK got the day of to an impressive start setting a fast time whilst correctly getting two of the three words.

Their efforts were good enough to secure third place in the challenge with only Central Eastern Europe and Brazil bettering their performance.

The second special stage was also in the canyon with the scenario being thrown at the team being that a huge tree had fallen across the path and that the three man team plus the embedded journalist (MCN’s Michael Guy) had to man handle the R1200GS over the fallen tree in the fastest possible time. After working on an exact strategy of who would be where at any point of the exercise, the team delivered a slick performance even if it did involve James Berrill falling off the log twice and nearly getting a GS on top of him. The net result was the seventh fastest time and 14 valuable points. Top honours went to Team USA who bagged the 20 point maximum.

Within minutes of leaving the stage, Team UK were forced to stop when James Berrill sustained a puncture in his front Metzeler. Our riding partners for the day Team Germany immediately began working to plug the side wall puncture and did a brilliant job of trying to prepare it. Unfortunately the split was just too big but four plugs later they were able to get some air in the tyre and to start riding. With over ten miles to the next village where we could meet the BMW mechanics, James  somehow managed to keep control of the bike on loose bumpy trails and had to limp the final five miles with the front tyre completely flat.  

The afternoon saw the GS Trophy competitors climb high up into the mountains on some brutally dusty trails, that made riding treacherous.

After arriving back at the camp, all the teams were warned that there would be another timed special stage, run at night, in a sectioned of area of the bivouac. The challenge involved complicated low speed riding, picking up and putting down objects whilst riding one handed with either no hand on the clutch or throttle. In what was arguably the toughest technical challenge of the even to date Team UK delivered another impressive performance to finish third.

Combined with the opening stage performances, Team UK scored an impressive 50 points to win the day and as a result move up to third overall. 

Tomorrow will see Team UK riding with Argentina and Canada on what will be a big 270km day where competitors are expected to arrive in Doi Inthanon after dark.

Day four points

South Africa – 164
Germany        – 149
UK                   – 148
Central Eastern Europe – 147
Latin America                       – 144