Sibiu, Romania, Wednesday 23 July - It was a scorching hot day out on the tracks for Day 1 of the Offroad Days. Anticipation and adrenaline fuelled the competitors at the startline. In the Gold Class it was Mani Lettenbichler (DEU, KTM) who set out in first position into the mountains followed by Mitch Brightmore (GBR) and Billy Bolt (GBR, Husqvarna).
Lettenbichler had a dominating performance leading the way for the entire 121 km day with no real battles with his fellow Gold competitors, despite feeling the pressure. Staying focused and keeping a continuous, fast flow through the intense and technical sections, without losing critical time picking lines; which has proven to be one of Lettenbichler's stronger riding advantages.
Pushing hard behind the leader were Teo Kabakchiev (BGR, Sherco) and Billy Bolt (GBR, Husqvarna) who continuously played a game of “cat and mouse”, in Bolt's words, until the very end coming in almost together in second and third. Mario Roman (ESP, Sherco) wasn’t going to be left behind and kept the leading pack within sight.
Lettenbichler Offroad Day 1
The day started with some tough sections before Service Point including Pandora, Skydive and Bedtime Alarm. Skydive cost some time for some of the competitors as a gnarly rock drop had to be negotiated, which even these elite athletes had to dismount their bikes in order not to lose them down the slope, as Brightmore experienced, costing him valuable time.
After the Service Point competitors were thrown back into some more tough sections before the LIVEmaniacs section, Martial Arts.
Three laps must be completed by the Gold riders in the LIVEmaniacs stages each day. Today a quarry presented steep gnarly uphills and dramatic drops down. Lettenbichler had to break trail in this section which made for a slower initial lap which he was able to make up on the next two. He had the tracks to himself until his third lap when Kabakchiev and Bolt joined him. Lettenbichler was able to pass Kabakchiev in the section, on his final lap having gained momentum in the familiar terrain.
Bolt stayed right on Kabakchiev's tires up until the finish with only two minutes between them in the end. Mario Roman (ESP, Sherco) and Graham Jarvis (GBR) were only minutes behind, close at heel. It was Mario who scored the fastest time in the LIVEmaniacs, not surprising with his preference for steep terrain. Francesc Moret Clota (ESP) had a stunning performance through the LIVEManiacs section with the fourth fastest time.
P1. Mario Roman
P2. Billy Bolt
P3. Teo Kabakchiev
P4. Francesc Moret Clota
P5. Mani Lettenbichler
P1. Mani Lettenbichler - 6h 5m
P2. Teo Kabakchiev - 6h 12m
P3. Billy Bolt - 6h 13m
LIVEmaniacs Martial Arts section, Mani Lettenbichler
The Silver Class were almost tricked with a smooth, flowy start into the Carpathian mountains until later in the day when the legendary steep downhills came along. The up and downhills were relentless pushing competitors' skill and endurance right up to the finish.
After 137 km the top five finishers were all within 10 minutes of one another including Eddie Karlsson (SWE, STARK VARG) who successfully brought his eMoto into the finish in P5.
The Bronze Class were presented with some challenging rocks at the start under the Gura Raului Dam followed by a good dose of long up and downhill sections, especially after the Service Point. Yali Tal (ISR) was able to gain an incredible 17 minutes on last year's Bronze Class winner, Kevin Gallas on his Ténéré 700 over the 140 km of tracks. Slovenia’s female enduro star Tjaša Fifer placed an incredible P8 after Offroad Day 1.
Iron Class Offroad Day 1
Silver Class:
P1. Justin Elizondo (CRI)
P2. Adam Giles (AUS)
P3. Kornel Ott (HUN)
Bronze Class:
P1. Yali Tal (ISR)
P2. Kevin Gallas (DEU)
P3. Diego Chang (GTM)
The Adventure Ultimate Class has a competitive lineup guaranteeing an exciting competition over the four Offroad Days. Pol Tarres (ESP, Ténéré 700), who was a Silver Class finisher in 2024 which is an incredible achievement on a bike weighing over 200 kg, double that of the enduro bikes he raced alongside. Next up, Romaniacs newbie, Johnny Aubert (FRA, KTM 890 Adv R), holding both world Enduro championship and ISDE titles to his name and Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph Tiger 900) former two time winner in Gold Class at Romaniacs, switching up to add the twin cylinder to his extensive motorcycle racing portfolio.
The true battle lay between Tarres and Aubert and not far behind was Romanian, Krisztian Tompa, Walker wasn’t able to manoeuver the heavy stead as fast and came in P.5 today.
The downhills were the most demanding for these competitors with the weight of their machines making steering a whole new game on the steeper sections, the horse power offers the advantage on the longer uphills providing the bike stays upright on two wheels, a few competitors were left to lift their bikes which takes a toll in time and energy lost. The Adventure Ultimate Class were fast and very capable on the 117 km of tracks today.
In the Adventure Lite Class Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph) led the way followed by Joop Nissink (NDL) and closely behind by Daniel Fernandez (COL). Sunderland finished the 130 km day with the better result by 14 minutes ahead of Nissink. In third place was Columbian Fernandez.
Adventure Ultimate Class:
P1. Pol Tarres (ESP, Ténéré 700)
P2. Johnny Aubert (FRA, KTM 890 Adv R)
P3. Krisztian Tompa (ROU) Ténéré 700
Adventure Lite:
P1. Sam Sunderland (GBR) Triumph Tiger 900
P2. Joop Nissink (NDL) Ténéré 700
P3. Daniel Fernandez (COL) CF MOTO 450
Adventure Ultimate Class, Krisztian Tompa (ROU)
eMoto Expert set out on the Silver Class tracks this morning with plenty of gnarly sections to put their bikes to the test. Although lighter, the single speed transmission doesn’t offer the clutch control that the top enduro riders rely so heavily on in the tough sections. Eddie Karlsson was able to prove the real comparison in Silver Class today by coming in in P5 on his STARK VARG.
Competitors were given the time required to recharge at their Service Point and completed 54 km of tracks.
eMoto Hobby Class set out onto the Iron tracks, they were presented some steeper sections as well as flowy sections and a total of 43 Km of which they all completed. Martin Dosch (DEU) raced excellent times and with a large lead over the other competitors. Check final results looks like an unlikely lead
eMoto Expert:
P1. Sebastian Dudaș (ROU) STARK VARG
P2. David Freidinger (AUT) EDURO
P3. Nicolai Schork (DEU) STARK VARG
eMoto Hobby:
P1. Martin Dosch (DEU) STARK VARG
P2. Ionut-Cristian Tocitu (ROU) CAN AM
P3. Bogdan Mihai Cimpu (ROU) CAN AM
Iron Class:
P1. Fabio Carvalho (PRT)
P2. Ovidiu Tronaru (ROU)
P3. Alexander Petroiu (CAN)
Atom Class:
P1. Dmitriy Reznitskiy (KAZ)
P2. Carlos Gracida (MEX)
P3. Justin Short (GBR)
Offroad Day 2 will pass through epic terrain and finish in Râmnicu Vâlcea for the overnight marathon stage, gaining access to the epic expanse of terrain in the Cindrel, Lotru, and Capatanii mountains. Competitors will be confronted at the finish by some surprises in the form of a series of classic “Prolog style” obstacles in the city, on the banks of the Olănești River. Spectators will once again have the opportunity to witness an urban show. The first competitors are expected to arrive in Râmnicu Vâlcea at 1:00 p.m.
Competitors will be responsible for their own motorcycle servicing/mechanics once they have left the Service Point on Offroad Day 2 and up until arriving at the Service Point on Offroad Day 3 with no tire changes between these points being permitted.
The eMoto race classes are an exception as they will have much shorter distances and will be met by their battery charging support teams at the eMoto Offroad Day 2 Finish and be transported to their overnight accommodation at Băile Olănești.
Adventure Lite, Sam Sunderland (GBR)
Photo credit: Tibi Hila, Adrian Crapciu, Traian Olinici.
Head of Press Release: Susan Mould
