The International BMW GS Trophy 2022, which is held every two years, took place last week in Albania from the 4th until the 10th of September. The South African men’s team made history when they won this event for a fourth consecutive time.
What makes this event even more significant is that local rider, Gerrit du Toit Junior, formed part of the winning team, who competed against some of the best adventure bike riders in the world. This after he won the national qualifying round in September last year and so became the youngest rider ever to accomplish this feat and be selected for the South African team.
Bulletin spoke to the 19-year-old du Toit about his team’s amazing victory, telephonically, as he was still in Albania at the time. “It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will certainly never forget. It was a challenging event, but that did not prevent me from enjoying every moment,” the elated youngster said.
“It was so awesome to be part of the SA team and to be able to bring it back home for a fourth consecutive time. I must compliment BMW Motorrad for hosting us, they went out of their way to accommodate us during the GS Trophy.”
To add to the South Africans’ celebrations, the women’s team also managed to clinch the top spot to make it a double whammy of International GS Trophy titles. It was the first time the SA ladies team managed to win the coveted title. The South African men won the last three GS Trophy International events in 2020 (New Zealand), 2018 (Mongolia) and in 2016 (Thailand).
For Du Toit Jnr and his teammates it was no simple task claiming top spot and it was only in the last few days of the competition that they really started to stamp down their authority.
South Africa topped the score sheet with a final tally of 217 points, with the United Kingdom’s team in second on 204 and Germany in third place on 185 points.
The South African women won their hotly contested division with a final score of 297 points with Germany taking second place on 296 points and the Mexican women’s riders in third on 264 points.
Du Toit Jnr was partnered with Dalton de Bruin and Warren Venter. The SA women’s team consisted out of Hanneli Zondagh and Christelle van der Meulen.
