Triumph Motorcycles has made a bold statement at the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs, with Jonny Walker charging to second overall in the inaugural Adventure Ultimate class and Sam Sunderland taking a dominant win in Adventure Lite — both riders competing aboard near-stock Tiger 900 Rally Pro models.
Held over five gruelling days in the Romanian Carpathians, the Romaniacs is regarded as one of the toughest hard enduro races on the planet. The 2025 edition introduced new Adventure categories, pushing large-capacity ADV bikes into the spotlight — and Triumph wasn’t about to miss the opportunity.
Walker Charges to Runner-Up
In his first competitive outing on the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Walker put in a world-class ride for the Triumph Factory Racing Enduro Team. After finishing second in the Prologue, he was slowed by a minor technical issue on Day 1, dropping to fifth overall. But the Brit fought back hard, winning three consecutive stages to climb into second place by the final flag — just 3 minutes and 43 seconds off the win.
“I really enjoyed riding the adventure bike at Romaniacs this year,” said Walker. “It was definitely a challenge through that kind of terrain, but the Tiger handled it all really well. We had the speed to fight for the win, and I had a lot of fun doing it.”
Sunderland Dominates Lite Class
For two-time Dakar champ Sam Sunderland, Romaniacs marked both a return to racing and his competitive debut for Triumph. Lining up in the Adventure Lite class, Sunderland made his intentions clear from the outset — winning the Prologue, then dominating every offroad day that followed. He took the overall win by a staggering four hours and 19 minutes.
“The bike was incredible all week, even in the tough stuff,” Sunderland said. “To take a Tiger pretty much out of the showroom, with hardly any time to test, and put it on top of the box is amazing.”
With Romaniacs complete, Sunderland now sets his sights on a bigger challenge: riding a Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer around the world in a record attempt covering over 18,000 miles across five continents.
Real-World Performance
Triumph’s Head of Global Racing Programmes, Ian Kimber, praised both riders and the bikes: “For Jonny and Sam to race bikes that are almost showroom-spec and finish where they have is incredible. Jonny was just a few minutes off the win despite the Day One issue, and Sam’s ride shows how capable the Tiger is in serious terrain.”
The Tiger 900 Rally Pro has already proven its pedigree, with a class win at the 2022 Baja Aragón. Powered by a punchy three-cylinder engine making 108PS and 90Nm, the bike blends off-road ability with road manners and long-range comfort. Showa suspension, Brembo brakes, advanced electronics and rider aids, and premium features like heated grips, six ride modes, and Triumph Shift Assist round out the package.
The Tiger 900 Rally Pro is available now through Triumph dealerships.
More info: www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au
Be the first to comment