Metzeler returns as GS Trophy supplier; preparing for Karoo 3 launch

Metzeler has again served as sole tyre supplier to the BMW Motorrad GS Trophy, which ran in South America from 24 November to 2 December. The rally-raid is organised every two years by the German motorcycle maker to allow its best and most competent customers to test the off-road qualities of BMW bikes. After the first edition in Tunisia in 2008 and the second in South Africa in 2010, the “Two-wheeler specialist” was chosen by BMW as the ideal technical partner to take on the hard trials scheduled.

This year the event took place on the slopes of the Andes between Chile and Argentina and saw 15 teams participate, a total of 45 riders from 19 different countries; riders battled one another in specific tests, physical trials and team competitions. Victory went to Team Germany, which racked up 256 points in the standings, followed by the French team with 238 and the Italian team, which took the third step of the podium with 222 points.
 
As always, the tyres played an important role in the success of this team competition. All the bikes, the F 800 GS used by the teams plus the R 1200 GS Rallye and G 650 GS Sertão used by the staff, marshals and for a few of the special trials, were equipped with Metzeler MCE Karoo tyres, knobblies designed specifically for the highest performance enduro bikes and developed by Metzeler to meet the needs of the most demanding and adventurous, particularly those who love to use their bikes off-road.
 
This year’s route covered 2,000 kilometres travelled in a week and three trials per day, and Metzeler notes it was demanding in terms of tyres, which were often forced to handle conditions of extreme use, for example going from difficult rides fording small torrents with bumpy stone beds to sand and then to mud in the lake areas of Patagonia. 
 
Thanks in part to the feedback received from the participants in the first three editions of the GS Trophy, Metzeler is now preparing for the public launch of what it calls a “worthy successor” for this tyre– the Karoo 3. The tyre maker says the new tyre is a candidate for the next GS Trophy edition and a product that will “definitely meet the expectations of all those bikers looking for adventure astride their medium and large engine Adventure/ enduro bikes.”