Get Ready, BMW's International GS Trophy Qualifier Races Are Coming

The main event is the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy, which will hit Romania in 2026. But before that, competitors must first qualify.

Photo by: BMW

By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Aug 19, 2025 at 9:43am ET

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Romania is a country that's absolutely mad for hard enduro. I mean, there's a reason Red Bull Romaniacs is a thing, and it isn't just because the energy drink manufacturer pours a ton of resources into putting on the event every year. If there wasn't already a thriving enduro and hard enduro culture there, there wouldn't be much of an event to fund, would there?

While the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy isn't Romaniacs Part II, it's not at all surprising to see that the Motorrad has chosen Romania as its destination for the 2026 main event to be held. Sometime in late summer that year (exact dates TBA at the time of writing), teams full of international participants will touch down in that beautiful and wild Eastern European country, ready to tackle all manner of obstacles and partnerships with fellow participants to make their way through the course, and hopefully toward completion and maybe even victory.

But before any of that can happen, hopeful participants in the International GS Trophy must first qualify. For those unfamiliar with how the process is structured, a series of national qualifying events will be held in various countries around the world, along with one international qualifying round to be held in Germany in October 2025.

If you're interested in participating on one of the national GS Trophy 2026 qualifying rounds, they're planned to take place in Australia, China, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, and Ukraine. The events will include things like GPS navigation tests, technical tests, off-road exercises, and more. A total of nine men's teams and six women's teams are planned to be assembled from participants who qualify for the 2026 main event.

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Participants will be racing on specially prepared BMW R 12 G/S machines, the details of which will be released to the public in the coming months. For more information, or to follow along on the adventure from the comfort of wherever you are, you can visit the official event website.

Are you excited about the International GS Trophy, or maybe even planning to participate? If not this year, are you planning to maybe give it a go in the future? Let us know in the comments!