Sam Sunderland bags Romaniacs podium as Triumph Tiger 900 proves its off-road credentials
Dakar winner Sam Sunderland puts a near-stock Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro on the Red Bull Romaniacs podium
Triumph has come away from the 2026 Red Bull Romaniacs with a podium finish after Sam Sunderland guided a near-standard Tiger 900 Rally Pro to second place in the Adventure Core class.
You may also like to read our Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro review
Taking on one of the toughest off-road events on the calendar, Sunderland stepped up to the Adventure Core category after winning Adventure Lite last year. He made an immediate impact by winning the opening off-road stage to take the overall lead before mechanical damage to the bike's chain and adjuster on day two cost him valuable time. Despite the setback, Sunderland stayed in the hunt throughout the remainder of the rally and secured second overall at the finish.
Speaking about the win, Sunderland said:
"Red Bull Romaniacs was an incredible challenge from start to finish. I went into the final day hoping to regain the overall lead and was actually back in front by the service point, but unfortunately a small crash in the dust snapped my clutch lever. I managed to keep going using the clutch cable, but it made the rest of the stage really difficult. To come away with second overall in the Adventure Core class is still a result I'm really proud of, especially considering how close the Tiger 900 Rally Pro is to standard specification. It's amazing what the bike is capable of in terrain like this. I could probably write a book with all the stories I've lived this week, but that's what these adventures are for, and I'm already looking forward to the next one."
In the premier Adventure Ultimate class, Triumph Factory Racing rider Jonny Walker delivered a consistent performance aboard another near-showroom-spec Tiger 900 Rally Pro. After qualifying 15th and finishing seventh in the Prologue, Walker climbed as high as fourth on Offroad Day Three before ending the rally sixth overall.
Five-time Enduro World Champion Ivan Cervantes also lined up for Triumph in the Adventure Core class and looked capable of challenging for the podium after a strong start. However, damage sustained on the second off-road day forced the Spaniard to retire early from the event.
All three riders competed on Tiger 900 Rally Pro motorcycles that remained close to standard specification, with only minor modifications made to cope with the demands of the Romanian hard enduro rally.
For Triumph, Sunderland's runner-up finish and Walker's top-six result provide another strong showcase for the Tiger 900 Rally Pro's off-road ability, especially considering the bikes were racing against purpose-built adventure machinery in one of the toughest endurance events in the world.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
