Sibiu, Romania. Friday 31 July - With two Offroad Days under their belt competitors knew Offroad Day 3 would really count. In Gold Class Mani Lettenbichler (DEU, KTM) started the day with a comfortable overall advantage of 19m37s over his closest rival Teo Kabakchiev (BGR, Sherco). With that pressure on him Kabakchiev knew he needed to make up time and give everything he had to the race today.
It was Lettenbichler who arrived at the finish first again today but after a seven hour battle and over 140 km of extreme Hard Enduro terrain, Kabakchiev was able to achieve his goal and gain a 53 seconds advantage for the fastest time of the day. Michael Walkner (AUT), who has pulled out all the stops this year, held his ground and came in third, 16m 38s behind Kabakchiev's fastest time.
Gold Class faced signature sections named "Magic Mushroom", a series of demanding climbs and technical rocks, "Coal Face", "Parallel Slalom", and, before Service Point, the new "Low Battery" and "Slap Me Baby" sections. Lettenbichler held onto his lead but Kabakchiev who had a new lease of energy was chasing hard, they both arrived into today's LEAT LIVEmaniacs Stage 3 with hardly any time separating them.
Both these elite competitors made light work of the steep rocky cliff face of “Galindo” riding with calculated precision. It was the gnarly downhill that would cause problems. Lettenbichler was able to keep momentum with a mix of “bulldogging”; dismounting and manually wrestling the bike down, and riding parts of the treacherous hill. Kabakchiev lost a few more moments being hung up by trees and sliding off camber. Lettenbichler was able to ride better times through the three laps of this stage.
Lettenbichler: ”It was a long day today, 7 hours of riding, but it was pretty good. I had to push hard, I knew Teo was riding strong today. The LIVEmaniacs downhill was a struggle, definitely pushing us to our limits I would say. Looking forward to tomorrow, the final day”.
Kabakchiev: “It was a proper Red Bull Romaniacs day, really hard uphills before the Service Point, I had to focus hard not to make any mistakes. I knew Mani was riding really clean today and we both fought for the lead today. I'm just going to push hard and try my best tomorrow”
Gold Class Results:
- Teo Kabakchiev (BGR)
- Mani Lettenbichler (DEU)
- Michael Walkner (AUT)
LEATT LIVEmaniacs Stage 3 fastest times:
- Mani Lettenbichler (DEU)
- Teo Kabakchiev (BGR)
- Michael Walkner (AUT)
Mani Lettenbichler Offroad Day 3
Michael Walkner (AUT) arrived at the LIVEmaniacs “Galindo” stage as Kabakchiev started his third lap. Walkner climbed up the steep zig zag rock cliff with confidence and did not hold Kabakchiev up, demonstrating strong determination.
The fleet of talented young guns chasing the leaders are all serious contenders with a wealth of experience, championship titles and proven results and they mean business when it comes to securing a spot on the Red Bull Romaniacs podium.
James Moore (ZAF), at just 19 years old, already has an impressive list of achievements, including the 2025 Junior World Championship title and victory at the 2025 Roof of Africa. Mitch Brightmore (GBR) brings a strong trials background to Hard Enduro, along with titles including British Youth Elite Champion, FIM SuperEnduro Junior World Champion and Junior World Hard Enduro Champion in 2023.
His younger brother Ashton Brightmore (GBR) has also proven his potential, finishing second in the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Tom Scales (ZAF), a former South African National Enduro Champion and third-place finisher in the 2025 FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship, adds further strength to the young generation challenging the established names.
The young South African, Matthew Green, already has a number of years behind him at Red Bull Romaniacs, was crowned the first ever Hard Enduro Junior Champion in 2022, is also a serious contender for the podium.
Completing this impressive group is Lorenzo Gandola (ITA), a former World and European Trial Champion in 2016 and 2017, whose technical precision and trials skills have already shown their value in the toughest sections of Romaniacs.
In the end, it was this group of competitors who filled positions P4 to P9 today. Despite the gap to the leading three riders in Gold Class, they are locked in a fierce battle among themselves. With one final Offroad Day remaining, these young guns will push their limits even further in the fight for position.
Graham Jarvis (GBR, Jarv-e) silently made his way through the field today, just shy of his previous LEATT LIVEmaniacs performances, of P2 and P8 fastest times, but still able to power his way into P13 today, continuing to make history as the first rider to compete on an eMoto at this level of Extreme Hard Enduro.
Galindo, LVEmaniacs stage 3
The Silver Class has been dominated by Sandon Kerswell (AUS), who now holds an overall lead of more than an hour. While anything can happen in Red Bull Romaniacs, he looks well placed to secure the class victory if he makes it through the Final Hillclimb section.
Silver tracks met up with the Gold Class for the “Magic mushroom” section today and some tougher terrain with a long section of slippery rocks before reaching the alpine trails again and riding through some spectacular Carpathian landscapes.
Silver Class results:
- Sandon Kerswell (AUS)
- Florian Kirchmayer (AUT)
- David Ignat (ROU)
The opening kilometres for the Bronze Class had flow but required full concentration and grip on the handlebars, deep, technical sections put competitors' skill and endurance to the test, leading into the scenic but demanding alpine trails that defined the second half of the day. The day was relentless with no breaks and competitors were relieved to reach the finish and have only one more Offroad Day to put their bodies through.
Red Bull Romaniacs veteran Emanuel Gyenes (ROU), who has competed in all twenty three editions, made up some time today placing him in P5 will want to make his final push for a podium position tomorrow, but so will Tjaša Fifer (SVN), the female competitor who has delivered an astonishing performance so far and came in P6 today.
Bronze Class Results:
1. Francisco Mateu (ESP)
2. David Rusanescu (ROU)
3.Benjamin Richter (DEU)
The Iron Class tracks were fast after the start but the pace soon settled into a series of tricky sections. While not as demanding as the Bronze route, competitors still needed to stay sharp before reaching the beautiful alpine trails. The top leaders in this group have established themselves, pushing one another and daily swapping finishing positions with Nico Friedmann (DEU) consistently leading the class. The battle for the remaining podium places will be determined ultimately by who pushes the hardest.
FULL RESULTS can be viewed on the website.
The Atom Class had a sharp wake up call today with a very technical slippery rocky section before heading back up to the ski hill area where the rough grassy tracks required heavy focus due to all the hidden rocks keeping competitors on their toes. They covered 121km which by Offroad Day 3 they'll be feeling it for sure.
FULL RESULTS can be viewed on the website.
Adventure Bike category
After the past two Offroad Days the competition between in the Adventure Ultimate Class is fierce. Today started with flowy faster tracks but later on became a battlefield of up and downhills and Hard Enduro style tracks, pushing this class all the way to the finish.
Mario Roman (ESP, CFMoto) has led the Adv Ultimate Class every day so far, but his overall advantage of just 5m 10s leaves no room for error. Pol Tarrés (AND, Yamaha), with his extensive Red Bull Romaniacs experience on the Yamaha Ténéré 700, made his move today, taking the win of the day by just five seconds over Roman to highlight how closely matched the pair are.
Dieter Rudolf (AUT) remains firmly in contention, finishing just 4m 44s behind Tarrés today. With one Offroad Day remaining, the battle for the podium is set for a thrilling finale. Only 5 minutes and 13 seconds separate Tarrés and Rudolf from the leader, Roman.
Adventure Category Offroad Day 3
Jonny Walker (GBR, Triumph) finished in P4 today, a strong result considering he would not have been able to start the day after breaking his clutch on Offroad Day 2. His race was saved thanks to the generosity of Triumph teammate Ivan Cervantes (ESP, Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro), who sacrificed his own race to provide the parts needed to get Walker back on track.
Cervantes returned to Red Bull Romaniacs for the first time in over a decade, bringing an impressive record that includes five Enduro World Championship titles and 21 Spanish Enduro Championship victories. After a strong start in the Adventure Core Class on Offroad Day 1, his own race became more challenging on the demanding second day. However, when he saw Walker fighting for a podium position in the Adventure Ultimate Class, he immediately made the decision to help his teammate.
Walker’s P4 finish today was not only a result of his own determination but also a demonstration of teamwork and good sportsmanship.
Adv Ultimate Class Results:
- Pol Tarrés (AND
- Mario Roman (ESP)
- Dieter Rudolf (AUT)
Adv Core Class stepped up the challenge on Offroad Day 3, with more trickier sections, hillclimbs, slippery rocky crossings and a full mix of terrain throughout the day. The main Hard Enduro feature would hit them after the Service Point in the form of a classic steep, long Romanian downhill section. Some of the competitors were off their bikes and pushing them down, no easy feat with the heavy Adv bikes there were also some off camber uphills which were slippery and consumed huge amounts of energy. Competitors were left with aching shoulders and physically exhausted.
Sam Sunderland (GBR, Triumph) didn't have his best day and lost some time on the tracks today but with only 2 minutes separating him from the overall leader, the fight remains wide open and is set to go all the way to the finish line.
Adv Core Class Results:
1. Jose Antonio Lombardia (ESP)
2. Rene Columna (DOM)
3. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRC)
The ADV Lite Class faced slightly easier tracks but njon the less are feeling the exhaustion from the previous two days Offroad. They were dished up some classic long Romaniacs steeper downhills towards the finish. Their biggest challenge will be to get through one more day of tough riding.
ADV Lite Class Results:
- Adrian Raduta (ROU)
- Mark Newton (NZL)
- Liviu Mircea Bereteu (ROU)
The eMoto Hobby Class enjoyed a rewarding enduro riding day. Valentin Rehrl (DEU) won the day but Martin Dosch (DEU) continues to hold the top spot overall, but with one Offroad Day still to come, the competition remains close and anything can happen. The decisive moment may well come in the hillclimb arena, where both rider skill and eMoto performance could determine who stands on the top step of the podium.
eMoto Hobby Class Results:
- Valentin Rehrl (DEU)
- Martin Dosch (DEU)
- Dani Otil (ROU)
Michal Fujak (POL) Adv Ultimate Class
Tomorrow, Saturday 1 August, competitors return to the Sibiu region for the final Offroad Day, with all classes converging at the spectacular Final Hillclimb Arena to deliver one last thrilling show for thousands of spectators.
Prolog mastermind Andy Fazekas has prepared an exciting set of new obstacles to welcome the riders for one final challenge before they cross the finish line and earn the title of Red Bull Romaniacs "UNSTOPPABLE" Finisher.
Founded by Martin Freinademetz in 2004, Romaniacs is the only five day Extreme Enduro Rallye of its kind in the world. Competitors experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Transylvanian Carpathian Mountains while attempting to conquer some of the toughest terrain to either win a spot on the Red Bull Romaniacs podium or to succeed in becoming a Red Bull Romaniacs finisher. The event continually evolves and is successfully growing the Adventure Bike category and along with the Enduro and eMoto class there are now nine race classes.
Offroad Day 3 Finish
Photo credit: Ionut-Vesa, David Ramba, Vlad-Dumitru, Andrei-Balasan, Imke-lamsma
Press Release: Susan Mould
Media Team
Red Bull Romaniacs