Pic - Predrag Vuckovich / Red Bull
niacs event up and running. Now 15 years later, Red Bull
Romaniacs is just one of a number of rounds of the World
Enduro Super Series, yet still remains the biggest, baddest
of the lot.
Held over the week of July 24 to 28, Red Bull Romaniacs
marked the halfway point of the 2018 World Enduro Super
Series and saw South Africa’s Wade Young take the victory
aboard his Sherco with a time of 26 hours 3 minutes and
15 seconds.
Racing had been extremely tight and entering the last
day just four minutes separated Young from Germany’s
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM). As Lettenbichler caught
Young throughout the day he also brought Britain’s John-
ny Walker (Red Bull Factory KTM) with him.
The three fought it out until the end of the day and with
just 20 kilometres to go Young was able to keep enough of
a lead to secure the outright win, just the fourth different
winner in the Red Bull Romaniacs history. With Young
taking his first victory at Romaniacs it cemented the fact
he’s one of the world’s best enduro riders. Lettenbichler
also secured his first Romaniacs podium.
“I can’t believe it, I am over the moon to have won,”
grinned Young.
“It’s been such a long race and so tough. Manni (Let-
tenbichler) caught me early on today. He would gap me
on the hills and then I would have to charge on the fast
sections to reel him back in. It went like that for the whole
day right until the last couple of checkpoints where I was
able to break away from him before the finish. It’s always
been my goal to win here and now I’ve managed to tick
that box. It’s the toughest race in the world and it feels
awesome to have won it.”
Lettenbichler described the last days riding as “gnarly”
and like riding “a motocross race – a six-hour motocross”.
Red Bull Romaniacs … maniacs in Romania …
TRAVERSE 14
Pic - Future7Media / Red Bull