‘Round the World Relay’ Comes to an End

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#2196

In March 2006, a group of adventure motorcyclists departed Madrid in Spain to begin one of the most ambitious around-the-world rides ever seen – a unique relay ride involving four BMW R1200 GS Adventure motorcycles, 120 riders and 30 stages across the globe.  😮Eighteen months later, after a combined total of almost 600 000 kilometres completed in Europe, Africa, Asia, America and Oceania, the four R1200 GS Adventures arrived safely back in Madrid to a heroes' welcome from Spain's capital city and its inhabitants. Having travelled through some of the earth's wildest and most difficult terrain, as well as having 30 different riders on each machine, the four motorcycles were joined on the final 70 kilometres to the centre of Madrid by a 'caravan' of BMW riders, who accompanied the four R1200 GS Adventures and their riders on 4 September for the final journey to Madrid's Town Hall, where they were met by the City Major, Don Alberto Ruiz Gallardón. 😀The BMW Riders Around the World Relay project was originally inspired by two Spanish motorcyclists - Gerardo Seelinger and Gustavo Cuervo - who (with the support of BMW Motorrad España) dreamed of a ride that combined some of the best roads and the most breathtaking scenery in the world and offered a special insight into different countries and cultures that no ordinary holiday could ever hope to achieveFortunately, the bikes lived up to the reputation established by BMW Motorrad's 'Gelande Strasse' genre for more than a quarter of a century and as Gerardo puts it, there was simply no other machine that could have stood up to the test of having 30 different riders on some of the world's most inhospitable terrain.  😀 😀"The GS Adventure is the only bike that could have done a trip like this. The great thing about this journey is that everyone thought it would be impossible, but it just shows you what can happen when the adrenaline starts to flow!  😆We've had so many people ask us what we're doing next," says Gerardo. "Thirty stages and 135 000 kilometres was probably a bit too ambitious, so we want to just do 15 stages and 60 000 kilometres. Due to phenomenal demand, Gerardo and Gustavo are already planning the next Around the World Relay, which is scheduled to leave in February 2008 but will be simpler than this one.

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