Get Ready for the Toughest Enduro Race Yet: It’s Almost Here!

Sure, why not add Erzbergrodeo plus Romaniacs? It sounds good.

My top spot for riding a motorcycle is off-road. It could be simply cruising along a trail.
Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450
, visiting my backyard’s dirt bike track for some riding fun
Niu’s XQi3
or
Dust’s Alpha1
Whether I’m cruising down an uneven trail or navigating a narrow path with the tire that has the bumpiest texture from my collection, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

And that experience, coupled with the several concussions I’ve endured over the years, has consistently attracted me to the notion of taking up running either the
Erzbergrodeo
or
Romaniacs’
enduro races.

For those new to this, these are grueling multi-day enduro events consisting of several stages. Think of them as rallies, except instead of cars, participants ride motorcycles and navigate through extremely challenging landscapes. Imagine routes filled with rocky terrains, narrow paths crossing logs over rivers, muddy pits so deep they seem bottomless, and very steep ascents on unstable ground. In short, they’re akin to purgatory. Yet, despite their brutal nature, they appear quite exhilarating—provided your intention is purely for enjoyment. Should you be entering competitively, things might feel differently.
Mani Lettenbichler
, well, that could be a separate issue altogether.

Clearly, I wouldn’t stand a chance and might perish on one of those tracks. However, these events are joining forces to create an extremely challenging hard enduro race, which would undoubtedly lead to my downfall.

I wince at the thought of it due to my back pain.

The new initiative raises the stakes and names the competition as well as the following events the Extreme Enduro Rally and the Extreme Enduro Championship. To answer anyone curious about what triggered this change, it’s all due to
KTM’s insolvency
and
FIM has decided to cancel the Hard Enduro Championship.
.

Regarding the new initiative, Red Bull Romaniacs event director Martin Freinademetz commented, “With the termination of the FIM championship series, we’ve joined forces with Red Bull Erzbergrodeo organizer Karl Katoch and leading figures from the industry to address this void. Our aim is to provide a distinct, standalone accolade for the athletes, ensuring the continuation and growth of the sport through fresh prizes for both the Extreme Enduro Rally and the upcoming Extreme Enduro World Championship in 2025.”

Similarly, Karl Katoch, the director of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, stated, “For years, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo has set the benchmark, and no other competition provides an equivalent athletic test. Through close collaboration with our partners, we ensure a just and internationally acknowledged championship win. This allows top-tier Extreme Enduro competitors worldwide to vie for a distinguished title.”

The outcome of this collaboration will lead to the extension of both series through 2025 without the involvement of the FIM and KTM’s support. The Erzbergrodeo will declare the “Extreme Enduro World Champion,” while the Romaniacs will announce the ” Extreme Enduro Rally World Champion.” There’s more to follow, but now seems like an ideal moment for me to acknowledge that keeping up with these competitors would be beyond my capabilities.

But I’d try.

Get Dirty

• The Hard Enduro Championship Has Been Canceled, with KTM Being Held Responsible
• Next year, Red Bull’s Crazy Romaniacs Race Will Feature an Electric Vehicle Category, This Is My Moment