Red Bull Romaniacs 2025
When Big Bikes Went Hard
You could feel it in the streets of Sibiu. The clatter of aluminum panniers, the bass of twin-cylinder engines echoing off old stone walls, and that electric tingle in the air, the kind that says something wild is about to happen.
This was the 22nd edition of the Red Bull Romaniacs, and it came with a twist: for the first time, adventure bikes lined up with their own class on the start grid. It wasn’t the first time big bikes faced the Carpathians: riders like Pol Tarres, who finished Silver Class in 2024 aboard a Ténéré 700, and Kevin Gallas, who took the win in Bronze with the same machine, had already proven it was possible. But this year was different. Now, the terrain was built with them in mind. Two dedicated categories, Adventure Ultimate and Adventure Lite, put heavy multi-cylinder bikes on a course tailored for challenge, not compromise.
The Adventure Ultimate and Adventure Lite classes broke ground, literally and figuratively. Riders from around the world showed up with Ténérés, Tigers, 890s, GSs, and more, ready to find out what happens when you take machines built for long-haul exploration and toss them into a four-day off-road gauntlet designed to humble even the lightest of dirt bikes
Why Bring a Big Bike to Romaniacs?
Romania’s terrain is part of what makes this rally what it is: raw, remote, and wildly unpredictable.
With over 620 miles (1,000 km) of trail through the Southern Carpathians, the Red Bull Romaniacs serves up everything from flowy ridge lines to steep root-filled descents, narrow singletrack, 4×4 tracks, and high-mountain roads that look like someone hand-carved them for legends. The soil is grippy, the trails are endless, and the scenery is nothing short of cinematic.
But don’t let the views fool you.
The Adventure Lite class was built for riders new to the Romaniacs grind. It offers technical challenge without total punishment: forest roads, wet gravel, scenic stretches and enough edge to get your heart pounding.
The Adventure Ultimate class, on the other hand, is where you go once you’ve reached your limits… and still want more. Designed for those with serious off-road chops or hard enduro experience, this class pushes heavy bikes through terrain that even makes 250cc two-strokes sweat.
And that’s exactly the appeal.
Ask Pol Tarres. Ask Jonny Walker. Ask anyone who’s watched a 500 lb machine crest a rock slab that looks like it belongs in a climbing gym.
What began as a wild idea is now a real part of the hard enduro scene. And the brands are paying attention, Yamaha, Triumph, KTM, BMW, Ducati, Aprilia, Husqvarna, CFMOTO, even Kove… all showed up with serious bikes and clear intentions. They came to race, and they meant it.
Sibiu Roars – Where legends roll in, and the real riding begins.
Sixty-three flags flew down the cobbled streets of Sibiu as engines echoed through the medieval city. Riders from around the world joined the Nations Ride, rolling through historic squares and narrow alleys while the city shook with the first sound of Romaniacs 2025. Fans, families, and locals lined the streets to catch a glimpse of what was coming.
On July 21, the city pulsed with the DEMOmaniacs opening show, the meet-and-greet, and the press conference featuring names like Graham Jarvis and Mani Lettenbichler, two legends sitting side by side, one with seven wins, the other already at five. But all eyes were also on the Triumph Tiger 900s parked behind them: Jonny Walker and Sam Sunderland were gearing up to tackle the new Adventure classes. One was a Gold Class veteran. The other, a two-time Dakar winner stepping back into the arena.
Then came the real fireworks.
Prologue – Bulevardul Coposu, July 22
At 7:00 a.m. sharp, the first Adventure bikes launched onto the obstacle course built right in the heart of Sibiu: about 1,150 feet (350 meters) of concrete, tires, metal, and logs arranged into 16 custom-built sections. More than 100 tons of material were packed into a track that demanded throttle precision, balance, and full-body effort from the opening lap.
In the Adventure Ultimate class, the early lead went to Pol Tarres (ESP, Yamaha Ténéré 700), followed by Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) and Greg Gordinne (BEL, KTM 890 ADV R), all delivering smooth lines and confident landings.
In the Adventure Lite class, Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) handled the prologue with the same calm intensity that made him a Dakar champion. Daniel Fernandez (COL) and Alin Sándulescu (ROU) rounded out the podium.
The crowd hit tens of thousands, and the mood was electric. The track design this year leaned toward flow and rhythm over carnage, a deliberate move by Prolog Director Andy Fazekas, who wanted to keep the early pace fast and the crashes low. It worked.
Offroad Day 1 – The Heavyweight Reality Check
The warm-up was over. On July 23, the Red Bull Romaniacs left the city behind and dove into the Carpathian wilderness. It was the first of four brutal off-road days, where polished ramps gave way to slick roots, tight forest trails, and long, unforgiving climbs.
In the Adventure Ultimate class, expectations were high.
Pol Tarres (ESP, Ténéré 700) came in carrying the weight of experience, he’d already finished Silver Class in 2024 aboard the same twin-cylinder beast.
His rhythm was solid and his lines clean. But this year, the field was deeper.
Johnny Aubert (FRA, KTM 890 Adv R), a first-timer at Romaniacs but no stranger to hard terrain, brought his world enduro titles and ISDE wins to the table. And then Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900), back on the Romaniacs trails but now wrestling a much heavier bike than in his Gold Class years.
The real tension built between Tarres and Aubert, with Krisztian Tompa (ROU) making a strong push close behind. Walker ended up finishing fifth, unable to keep the Tiger 900 moving at the same pace through the tightest sections. Downhills were punishing, especially with the weight of these bikes and the loose, grippy Romanian soil. The 73-mile (117 km) loop chewed through energy, traction, and rear brake pads in equal measure.
In the Adventure Lite class, Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) was untouchable. Leading from start to finish, he closed the day 14 minutes ahead of Joop Nissink (NDL, Ténéré 700). Daniel Fernandez (COL, CF MOTO 450) held third. The 81 miles (130 km) stage was a real introduction to the terrain, and Sunderland looked right at home.
Offroad Day 2 – Heat, Distance, and a Tiger on the Hunt
July 24 brought the kind of day that drains you fast. With 114 miles (183 km) of rugged trails and signature Romaniacs sections lined up one after the other, riders rolled out under a blazing sun, and came back looking like they’d wrestled their bikes uphill and downhill the entire time. Which they had.
In the Adventure Ultimate class, it was Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) who pushed hardest. After a rough Day 1, Walker came out swinging, charging through the technical sections like he was riding a much lighter bike. He clocked the fastest times at multiple checkpoints, making up lost ground and setting up a proper fight with Pol Tarres (ESP, Ténéré 700). Tarres held strong, keeping pace, while local rider Krisztian Tompa (ROU) stayed just seconds behind the top two.
All three finished within minutes of each other, but it was Walker who led the day. The full loop beat up machines and riders alike, but the Adventure class front pack kept the pace high from start to finish.
In Adventure Lite, Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) kept his rhythm and his lead, riding clean and fast through the 105-mile (170 km) loop.
Joop Nissink (NDL, Ténéré 700) and Oliver Mocker (AUS) followed, still in touch but with Sunderland clearly in control. Riders reported fast terrain mixed with tricky forest lines and loose hill climbs. Most came back covered in sweat, dust, and dents, just holding it together to reach the finish.
Offroad Day 3 – Close Calls and High Stakes
July 25 brought another punishing route through the Romanian backcountry. The terrain was rough, the heat relentless, and fatigue was starting to show.
But for the front runners in Adventure Ultimate, the fight wasn’t letting up.
Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) put in another strong ride, crossing the finish line ahead of everyone in his class. Pol Tarres (AND, Ténéré 700) stayed close, still leading the overall standings, but the gap was shrinking. With just one off-road day left, everything pointed to a final showdown between these two.
Kimonas Karabelas (GRC, Ténéré 700) made a solid move into third place for the day, while the rest of the top six kept the pressure high and the gaps tight. Riders were now deep into the rhythm of the rally, tired, bruised, but holding on.
In Adventure Lite, Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) extended his lead once more. At this point, the Dakar veteran had made the terrain feel like home. Joop Nissink (NDL) and Daniel Fernandez (COL) continued to chase, holding on to second and third.
By now, friendships had formed on the trails. Riders were helping each other lift bikes, share water, and push through the rougher climbs. The Romaniacs spirit was in full effect.
Offroad Day 4 – Last Push, Full Throttle
Saturday, July 26. Final off-road day. After more than 400 miles (650 km) of punishing trails, deep forest climbs, rocky downhills and scorching sun, only one thing stood between the riders and the Romaniacs finish line: one last dose of everything the Carpathians had left to throw at them.
In Adventure Ultimate, the duel was set: Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) had finished fastest again. But despite all the effort, Pol Tarres (AND, Ténéré 700) held on to his overall lead and took the win, just 3 minutes and 48 seconds ahead after four days of racing.
Dawid Szczotka (POL, Yamaha Ténéré 700) stepped up to finish third overall, while Krisztian Tompa (ROU, Yamaha Ténéré 700) and Greg Gordinne (BEL, KTM 890 ADV R) rounded out the top five. Every one of them had ridden their twin-cylinder machines over terrain designed to break enduro bikes.
And they made it.
In Adventure Lite, it was a clean sweep: Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) finished his return to racing in style. Four days, four wins. Behind him, Joop Nissink (NDL, Yamaha Ténéré 700) and Daniel Fernandez (COL, CFMOTO 450MT) locked in second and third.
More than 60 riders had signed up across the two new Adventure classes. Many were well-known pros; others came from the world of social media and YouTube, like Mr Rallybike, who brought his KTM 890 and a helmet-mounted camera to match. Endurak666 was part of the Romaniacs pulse this year.
He didn’t appear under his social media handle in the official entry lists, but his posts captured the spirit of the event, mud, tension, and those raw moments that turn a ride into something bigger.
Meanwhile, Chris Birch, KTM ambassador and extreme enduro veteran, was present aboard the prototype 1390 Super Adventure R, equipped with the brand’s first AMT gearbox. He wasn’t racing, but his riding through Sibiu and around the bivouac made it clear: the next generation of big bikes is being shaped where the terrain demands more than specs.
It’s no longer a trial run. Big bikes are carving their place into the heart of hard enduro.
Big bikes are here to stay.
Epilogue – When the Mountains Start Speaking Adventure
There aren’t many places where Dakar legends, Instagram riders, seasoned pros, and 500+ lb motorcycles all line up at the same start gate. But this year, Red Bull Romaniacs made it happen. And it wasn’t for show. It was raw. It was brutal. It was beautiful.
For years, adventure bikes were seen as the big machines, built for long journeys, scenic photos, and crossing continents. But in Sibiu, they stopped being travel companions. They became weapons. Not out of coincidence, but because Romania’s terrain allows it. Demands it. And now, celebrates it.
The story of this year went beyond rankings. It was a signal. Brands are stepping into the arena to prove their bikes can take it. Riders are pushing limits on machines that once stayed on the highway. And the community? It’s growing by choice, riders are stepping in because they want to be part of it.
Watching a Ténéré 700, a KTM 890, a Triumph Tiger, or a GS drop down a root-laced descent or claw up a savage climb lights a fire in every rider watching. You feel it in your knuckles, even through the screen, like a twitch in your throttle hand that hasn’t cooled down yet.
Romaniacs opened the door. More riders saw a way in. More engines answered. For the ones who ever wondered if their big bike could go further. For those who understand, it starts at the start line. What happens after that is just the story.
See you in Sibiu. Or at the next turnoff. Or that exact moment when the pavement ends, and you finally leave the comfort zone behind.
Words by: Mike de la Torre – Photo Credits: RedBull Media, Triumph Media
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