BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2026: Germany and Europe conquer the Carpathians after 1,500 km of pure off-road

He BMW Motorrad GS Trophy 2026 combined “impressive forest trails, eroded mountain roads, river beds and interesting high mountain tracks”. In fact, about half of the route took place off-road, turning this edition into a true test of technique, endurance, navigation and, above all, teamwork.

Germany and Europe win the GS Trophy 2026

The German team formed by Fabian Fenner, Norman Pleissner and Florian Thomann he finished at the top of the men’s classification with 203 points. Europe, with 147 points, took second place, followed by Ukraine, with 144. In the women’s competition, the victory went to Team Europe, made up of Chrissie Harcourtfrom Great Britain, and Anja Filakfrom the Netherlands. Both scored 200 points, ahead of Team International, which finished with 184. Australia completed the podium with 164 points.

The classification remained open until the last test. Before facing the final stretch, only two points separated Europe from the International team among women, while Germany defended an eleven point advantage over Europe in the men’s category.

Six days of authentic off-road

He GS Trophy 2026 took participants through some of the most complicated scenarios in the Carpathians. The proposal of bmw It combined long distances with technically demanding areas, forcing the teams to maintain concentration during especially long days. One of the data that best reflects the hardness of this edition is that for 3 consecutive days the teams spent between 11 and 12 hours on the motorcycles. And, on the third day, they completed more than 300 km, including 170 km on trails.

Added to this were low temperatures, fog, humidity and continuous changes in the terrain. It was not just a matter of knowing how to ride an enduro motorcycle: managing fatigue, orienting yourself correctly and maintaining coordination with your teammates was equally important.

Without a doubt, the Carpathians tested the G.S.. Among the most notable challenges was the Metzeler Enduro Navigation Challengean 8km section of narrow forest trails that required precision and navigation skills. There were also steep climbs along the Strategica mountain road and descents along narrow paths. Deep gravel, wet surfaces, eroded paths, river beds and steep slopes further complicated a route in which virtually no terrain could be considered familiar.

In fact, bmw I had chosen Romania precisely because of the enormous variety of settings it offers for a GS-style adventure. Without a doubt, the protagonists, in addition to the participants, were the mountains, forests, rivers, gravel tracks and high mountains.

The BMW R 12 G/S, protagonist on the terrain

The motorcycle used as Competition Bike of this edition was the BMW R 12 G/S. The model had to face water, mud, gravel, roots and steep slopes during a particularly demanding week. bmw raised the R 12 G/S as a motorcycle capable of combining control and precision on very different terrain, and the GS Trophy 2026 It allowed us to take that philosophy to one of the most demanding scenarios possible.

One of the most interesting stories of this edition is in the winning women’s team. Chrissie Harcourt and Anja Filak They did not know each other before starting the GS Trophy. harcourtfrom Wales, and Filakfrom the Netherlands, had to build their coordination on the fly. During the 6 days of competition they ended up functioning as a true unit, supporting each other to overcome obstacles and stay in the fight for victory.

The result was especially significant because Team Europe It was the smallest team in the women’s competition, but it ended up winning. In Romania, 30 pilots participated in 8 men’s and 5 women’s teams from 13 countries. During the 2026 edition they had to face six days of driving and approximately 1,500 km of travel.