! Press ! - BMW Motorrad Days 2007

[Stoffel]

Meer dan 34.000 bezoekers uit 42 landen reisden in het weekend van 6-8 juli af naar de BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Zie verder voor het Engelstalige persbericht.

BMW Motorrad Days 2007 - Motorliefhebbers vanuit de hele wereld bezochten Garmisch-Partenkirchen
11.07.2007

Munich/Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Over 34,000 visitors travelled to the BMW Motorrad Days held from July 6th - 8th 2007 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 42 nations were represented at the popular holiday resort in the Bavarian Alps, including guests from Malaysia, Australia and South Africa. There was a veritable migration from Italy to Garmisch, with over 60 per cent of hotel bookings coming from the southern neighbour. As happens every year, the weather steadily improved: on Friday it was wet, on Saturday mixed to fine and on Sunday visitors were spoilt with marvellous sunshine.
Action on the X-track and at the Streetbike Freestyle Show
The shows on the X-track in the middle of the grounds attracted lots of spectators. Joel Smets, five times Motocross World Champion, Simo Kirssi, winner of this year's Erzberg Prologue and the King's Class, Sascha Eckert, several German Enduro Champion, Andreas Lettenbichler, five times German Motorcycle Trial Champion, and Chris Pfeiffer, Indoor Streetbike Freestyle World Champion and TT Freestyle Streetbike Champion - all of them ploughed their way around the demanding off-road track and demonstrated some wild jumps.
In the course of his Streetbike Freestyle Show, Chris Pfeiffer overcame gravity itself and captivated visitors with his amazing stunts. For example, he ran along behind his F 800 as it rode along on its own and then jumped back onto the saddle. The breathtaking finish was a somersault over the handlebars! The young riders were also great to watch. The Trial Kids Show - including a jump over a stationary car - was admired by many.
And guests were actively involved too. Everyone could ride in the Enduro Park and on the X-track and take test rides. On Saturday over 1,000 motorcyclists participated in the 110 km motorcycle convoy through Germany and Austria.
The classic convoy on Sunday consisted of some 100 historic motorcycles with authentically dressed riders. For one visitor, the experience of BMW Motorrad got off to a great start: there was a draw for a G 650 Xchallenge and the lucky winner was a learning motorcyclist from Gelsenkirchen.

People at the Motorrad Days
What would the Motorrad Days be without the people who make their way there on their motorcycles from the most distant corners of the world? Jeffrey 'JJ' Polnaja from Indonesia was moved by the war and suffering throughout the world during his "Ride for Peace" lasting more than five years. With his silent protest ride on an R 1150 GS Adventure, the 46-year-old Indonesian is pursuing a very special mission. He wants to overcome borders, make friends and spread peace.
Ricky Godoy Ferrari from Chile offered an insight into his off-road training programs and tours on BMW motorcycles through the diverse landscapes of his home country - a real dream for enduro riders. Here there are stretches of 2,000 kilometres without any sign of civilisation. The chirpy Chilean covers more than 80,000 km a year there. Having trained as a confectioner and with German roots, he also runs the famous "Café Hildegard" in Santiago de Chile which he named after his grandmother. If you book a tour with him you should definitely drop by: guests can expect the very finest Black Forest Gateau, cherry pie, apple cake and stollen - all made to German recipes.
And 607 km is a good distance too: in the garden of BMW Motorrad Days fan Armin Marburger from Bad Berleburg - Elsoff there is now a road sign to Garmisch which he received as a gift from friends. That way he always knows in which direction to point his R 1150 RT!

Party everywhere
Whether in the big party tent with the bands StreetLIVE and "Me and the Heat", on the terrace in the "Urban" section with DJ Moorad or in the US lodge at the "Salsa Night" with the Cuban band "A Buena Vista": the music got everyone up dancing and there was a great atmosphere all round. For those who wanted a quieter time, there were the gentle guitar tones of Byron around the campfire.