The 2023 edition of Red Bull Romaniacs is well underway, with a 31-strong contingent of Kiwis competing in the gruelling Hard Enduro in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this week, Romaniacs was founded in 2004 by former snowboard champion Martin Freinademetz. It has built a reputation as one of the most complex and longest events on the Hard Enduro World Championship calendar.
As per redbull.com, “Hard Enduro combines the most extreme elements of the major disciplines of off-road motorbike racing: the high speed and long distances of Endurance, the technical skills and obstacles of Trials and the jumps and fast lines of Motocross and the navigation challenges of Cross-Country.”
The event began on Tuesday with ‘The Prolog’, which saw competitors from 55 countries display their off-road riding skills against man-made obstacles in the medieval town centre of Sibiu.
Competitors then ventured to the mountains off night for the first of four days of offroad racing over rugged terrain. Day 2 begins at 5.00 pm (NZ Time) on Thursday evening, with a full racing schedule following on Friday and Saturday.
Victory is not the primary goal of most competitors, given the nature of the event; Simply just finishing is considered an accomplishment.
Seven New Zealanders are competing in the Silver class, with 2013 Silver champion Sean Clarke returning for yet another tilt at the challenge. He’s joined by Kevin Archer, Malcolm Macrae, Bryce Williams, Ryan Hayward, Campbell Easton and Hayden Power.
Archer is the best-placed Kiwi after the first day of offroad racing and sits 11th in the Silver standings, 21 minutes behind class leader Valentino Hutter after over five hours of racing in difficult conditions.
A total of twenty Kiwis are running in the Bronze class, with Ethan Jameson leading the way in fifth, just shy of 17 minutes behind class leader Jurg Schutz. Harrison McClintock joins Jameson in the top 10 and is seventh, just five seconds behind his compatriot.
Bevan Holmes, Stewart Cundy, Jamie Croad and Deane Manley make up a four-strong Kiwi attack in the Iron class.
Highlights of each day’s action can be viewed on Red Bull TV, while a live stream can be followed on the Romaniacs website.
2023 Red Bull Romaniacs Kiwi Competitors
Silver Class
| Kevin Archer |
| Sean Clarke |
| Malcolm Macrae |
| Bryce Williams |
| Ryan Hayward |
| Campbell Easton |
| Hayden Power |
Bronze Class
| Mark Newton |
| Mark De Lautour |
| Duncan McLaren |
| Lachlan Niederer |
| Phil Skinner |
| Tony Walch |
| Nigel Reid |
| Warrick Batley |
| Spence Mcclintock |
| Harrison Mcclintock |
| Norman Thomas |
| Mark Whyte |
| Ashton Whyte |
| Matt Thorburn |
| Wayne Finlayson |
| Tim Lapwood |
| Glen Magson |
| Ethan Jameson |
| Gerald Holden |
| Rob Larman |
Iron Class
| Bevan Holmes |
| Jamie Croad |
| Stewart Cundy |
| Deane Manley |
Header Image: Mihai Stetcu/ Red Bull Content Pool
