Spanish rookie wins Romaniacs prologue

From Red Bull Romaniacs

The battle for the best starting position is over at the Red Bull Romaniacs Rallye and Spain’s Xavier Galindo-Arbones (KTM) defeated title defender Graham Jarvis (GBR/Sherco) and last year’s runner-up, German BMW Rider Gerhard Forster on Saturday. In front of 9,000 fanatic spectators in downtown Sibiu/Hermannstadt, the Spaniard left a very strong first impression at his first ever attempt.

Back in the founding days of Red Bull Romaniacs in 2004, this prologue over man-made obstacles was invented by organizer Martin Freinademetz, building chief Andy Fazekas and his crew from the local motorcycle club, Crazy Bike Sibiu.

“This year we tried a very new format, best compared with Snowboard-Boardercross, and after last year’s wet weather and the troubles for the riders on the wet wooden obstacles, this year we’ve built the course in a more safe way, no matter what weather. Even with rain, it would hold up and offer enough grip, also for the hobby-, and experts-classes”, Fazekas said.

Forster was happy to have two riders of the format of Jarvis and Galindo-Arbones in front of him, releasing him from the pressure of navigating the others through the trails as he had to in 2008.

“I hope that there will be a lot of navigation to be done tomorrow morning by the two in front of me, so I can catch up with them and make up some time from the start-interval," stated the German.

Jarvis also was not too disappointed about his second place in the prologue: “I am glad it all worked well today, the bike and myself unharmed. I look forward to the days in the mountains to come, because I think that’s where the decision will take place.”

Galindo-Arbones, only known to Hard-Enduro insiders from past participations in the World Enduro Championships and in selected indoor Enduros, can count on a solid trial-riding background which might get him far in the Red Bull Romaniacs Rallye: “Having those two experienced riders in my back is not a perfect scenario, but I’ll try my best to keep them off my back," he stated after the race.

Sunday the start is scheduled for 6:00am and due to the starting-intervals for the top-pros, the heat will be on, immediately.