The 23rd edition of the Red Bull Romaniacs has once again confirmed why it is considered the toughest extreme enduro rally in the world. The 2026 edition welcomed over 600 riders from more than 60 countries for a week of extreme racing in Romania.
James Moore experienced what he considers one of the most important weeks of his career. After qualifying 12th in the prologue, the rider built his comeback day by day: 4th on the first stage (5th overall), 4th again on the second after navigating the Live Maniacs section well, and another 4th place on the third stage, which put him firmly in fourth place overall with a solid lead. On the final and toughest day of racing, Moore overtook the rider in third place on one of the most gruelling climbs and managed his lead right to the finish line, finishing the Romaniacs in third place overall.
James Moore:“Making it onto the overall podium at the Romaniacs is something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time. This wasn’t just my achievement: it was a team effort, and having my team and my parents by my side during such a gruelling week made all the difference. Third place in the world’s toughest race: a week I’ll never forget.”
Alongside Moore, veteran Alfredo Gomez once again demonstrated the experience that sets him apart in one of the toughest races on the calendar, finishing 11th overall. The rider commented: “I didn’t race to the best of my ability; with the problem with my hand, staying in the seat for so many hours was very difficult.”
B Ott KornellB also put in a strong performance, finishing 12th overall on his debut in the Gold Class, with a top-10 finish on one of the off-road days.
Ott Kornell:“The hardest part was the LiveManiacs, where we had to complete three laps every day on a very demanding course. I’m delighted to have completed the world’s toughest hard enduro race. Competing in the Gold Class for the first time was an incredible learning experience; I can’t wait to come back stronger next year.”
