Sam Sunderland and Triumph takes Adventure Lite win at the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs
Triumph Motorcycles has completed a landmark week at the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs, with rider Sam Sunderland taking a dominant victory in the Adventure Lite class and Jonny Walker finishing a close second in the Adventure Ultimate category.
Both riders competed on near-standard Tiger 900 Rally Pro motorcycles, delivering standout performances across five demanding days in the challenging terrain of the Carpathian Mountains. According to Triumph, the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs was a powerful demonstration of the Tiger’s capability, especially in what many consider as the world’s toughest off-road competition.
Sam Sunderland (middle)
For two-time Dakar Rally winner Sam Sunderland, this marked his competitive debut for Triumph and a highly anticipated return to racing. Competing in the new Adventure Lite class, Sunderland made his intentions clear from the start by winning the city Prologue. He went on to dominate each of the four subsequent off-road days with perfect results, securing the overall class win with a commanding lead of four hours and 19 minutes. His victory on the production-based Tiger 900 Rally Pro showcases its robustness and performance right out of the box.
Following this win, Sunderland is now preparing for his next major challenge: an attempt to become the fastest person to ride a motorcycle around the globe aboard a Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer.
Jonny Walker at the Adventure Ultimate Class
In the more competitive Adventure Ultimate class, Triumph Factory Racing Enduro Team rider and former Romaniacs champion himself, Jonny Walker, delivered another world-class performance.
After placing second in the Prologue, a minor technical issue on Offroad Day 1 cost him valuable time, dropping him to fifth. Undeterred, Walker responded with three consecutive off-road stage wins, closing the gap to the leader. Despite his late charge, he ultimately finished second overall, just three minutes and 43 seconds behind Yamaha’s Pol Tarres. Both Walker’s and Sunderland’s results highlight the impressive potential of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro in extreme riding conditions.
