Four Days of Relentless Hard Enduro Reward X-GRIP with Strong Results.
Last week, the world’s toughest Hard Enduro rallye once again called the world’s elite riders to the Romanian Carpathian Mountains for the “UNSTOPPABLE” Edition of Red Bull Romaniacs 2026.
Representing the X-GRIP Racing Team, brothers Mitch and Ashton Brightmore lined up in the prestigious Gold Class, while Austrian Hard Enduro specialist Dieter Rudolf made his first-ever appearance in the rapidly growing Adventure Ultimate category aboard a KTM 890 Adventure R.
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City Prologue · Sibiu
Before tackling the brutal mountain terrain of Romania, the event opened with its iconic city prologue in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans in Sibiu. Massive jumps, tractor tyres, logs and other technical obstacles created thrilling head-to-head races through the city centre.
Didi adapted immediately to his unfamiliar KTM 890 Adventure R and fought at the front of the Adventure Ultimate class throughout the evening. After several exciting battles, he crossed the finish line in an excellent third place.
The Gold Class final was equally impressive for the X-GRIP Racing Team. Both Brightmore brothers made strong starts and showcased their SuperEnduro skills on the technical course. Mitch narrowly missed victory by just one second, finishing in the runner-up spot, while Ashton completed the prologue in sixth place, giving both riders an excellent starting position for the off-road stages.
02
Day One · Jiu Valley
The opening off-road day took riders on a demanding 180-kilometre route from Sibiu through the spectacular Jiu Valley, including former mining towns Petrila and Lupeni. Although previous rainfall provided welcome traction, the course still featured countless signature sections, 21 checkpoints, three laps of the live “Octopus” Maniac Loop and over seven hours of relentless Hard Enduro.
Mitch finished the demanding stage in fifth place, closely followed by Ashton in sixth, maintaining their position among the front runners.
Meanwhile, Didi immediately proved competitive in the Adventure Ultimate class. Riding a shorter version of the course, he even led the field at times before securing another outstanding third-place finish, clearly enjoying his new challenge.
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Day Two · Rocks ‘n’ Roll
Stage two featured around 130 kilometres of fast single-track sections, a passage through a century-old abandoned coal mine and three exhausting laps through the notorious “Rocks ‘n’ Roll” boulder section, where riders climbed over 1,600 metres in elevation.
The faster single-track sections were less suited to Mitch’s strengths, costing him valuable time. Later, in the Live Maniac Section, he recovered much of the lost time with a bold line choice over rocky ledges near the finish.
Ashton was able to follow his older brother closely while the battle for the Top 5 intensified.
Mitch finished the day in fourth, with Ashton defending sixth place after another close fight.
Finishing third for the second consecutive day, Didi once again delivered an excellent performance and strengthened his hold on third overall in Adventure Ultimate.
04
Day Three · Galindo Ridge
The third off-road day introduced new signature sections such as “Slap Me Baby” and “Low Batterie”, with approximately 160 kilometres of exceptionally demanding terrain.
Scorching temperatures dried out the ground throughout the event, reducing grip and making already difficult hill climbs, endless rock gardens and exposed off-camber sections even more challenging.
The track led directly to the Live Maniacs Loop across the rocky ridge of Galindo, followed by one of the most intimidating descents of the entire rally.
That downhill section was so steep and slippery that virtually every competitor was forced to slide their motorcycle down the mountainside under limited control.
Unfortunately, Mitch lost significant time in this section, dropping out of podium contention and finishing the day in a disappointing seventh place. Ashton showed another solid ride to claim sixth, while Didi continued his remarkable debut with yet another third-place finish, firmly securing third overall in the Adventure Ultimate standings.
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Day Four · Finish Arena
After three punishing off-road days, competitors had to summon every remaining ounce of energy for the final 120-kilometre stage, which concluded in the famous Hillclimb Live Maniac Loop finish arena.
With increasing dust and limited visibility, X-GRIP Racing Team rider Dieter Rudolf tried to ride safely aboard his KTM 890 Adventure R. Still doing it the Didi way, the experienced Austrian powered his KTM 890 Adventure R into the finish stadium, where thousands of spectators cheered the riders home.
For Ashton Brightmore, however, the final day brought disappointment. Unable to reach the finish of the final stage, he was classified 20th for the stage, dropping to 19th overall in the final Gold Class standings.
Mitch also struggled with the heavy dust conditions, choosing a measured approach rather than taking unnecessary risks. A solid ride earned him fifth place on the final day, securing fifth overall at one of the world’s toughest Hard Enduro events.
The biggest celebration came in the Adventure Ultimate category. Dieter Rudolf entered the finish arena in second place on the final stage, keeping the battle for second overall alive until the very end. After four demanding days, he narrowly missed second overall but secured an impressive third place overall in his very first appearance in the Adventure Ultimate class.
Despite brutal terrain, soaring temperatures and relentless technical challenges, Mitch Brightmore secured fifth overall in the Gold Class, while Dieter Rudolf claimed a podium finish in his Adventure Ultimate debut aboard the KTM 890 Adventure R for the X-GRIP Racing Team.
