Kiwi Rider Podcast 2022 | E28
In this week's show, Ray talked us through his insurance win, we have
Triumph Takes on Romaniacs – And Smashes It
Well, that was a week to remember! Triumph rolled into the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs and came away with a whole lot more than just muddy boots and sore arms.
Jonny Walker threw the big Tiger 900 Rally Pro around like it was a trials bike, finishing an epic second overall in the brand-new Adventure Ultimate class. Meanwhile, Sam Sunderland—on his first competitive ride for Triumph—absolutely dominated the Adventure Lite category. We’re talking city Prologue win and four straight offroad days where no one else even came close. The man was on rails.
And here’s the kicker: both guys were riding bikes that are basically showroom stock. Yep, the same Tiger 900 Rally Pro you can buy at your local dealer, just with a couple of race-specific tweaks. No secret factory bikes, no magic suspension—just grit, skill, and a seriously capable machine.
Romaniacs Goes Adventure Mode
This year, Red Bull Romaniacs launched two new categories just for adventure bikes: Adventure Ultimate (for the big dogs) and Adventure Lite (still gnarly, just a touch more forgiving). Riders faced everything from nasty rock gardens and slick river crossings to steep mountain climbs and tight forest singletrack. It was proper tough.
Jonny had a rough start after a minor technical gremlin on Day 1 dropped him to fifth. But he wasn’t having that. He charged back with three straight stage wins to claw his way up to second overall—just 3 minutes and 43 seconds off the win. Unreal effort on a 900cc adventure bike.
As for Sam? He made his intentions clear from the get-go, winning the Prologue and then leading every single offroad day. When the dust settled, he’d built up a four hour and 19-minute lead. That’s not a typo.
What’s Next for Sam?
This Romaniacs win is just the warm-up. In a few weeks, Sam’s taking on an even crazier challenge: becoming the fastest person to ride a motorcycle around the world. That’s over 18,000 miles, five continents, and more than 15 countries—all on a Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer. Talk about going big.
What the Riders Said
Jonny Walker
“I have really enjoyed riding the adventure bike at Romaniacs this year. Other than the small issue on day one where I lost some time, I had no problems at all with the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. The bike handled everything really well, and I was able to win the next three days in a row, so it’s clear we had the speed to fight for the top step. It was definitely a challenge riding a big bike through that kind of terrain, but I had a lot of fun and it was great to be back at this race doing something completely different. Finishing second overall is a great result, and I think we showed what the bike is capable of.”
Sam Sunderland
“So that’s Red Bull Romaniacs 2025 complete! I’m really happy to take the win in the Adventure Lite class with a comfortable margin – I even managed to enjoy the views today! The bike was incredible all week, even in some really tricky spots with steep climbs and more. To take the Tiger pretty much straight out of the showroom with not much time to test it and then put it on the top of the box is amazing. Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the race and super happy to take the win and show everyone what the adventure bikes are capable of.”
Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles
“Red Bull Romaniacs is well known for being one of the toughest races in the hard enduro calendar. For Jonny and Sam to take bikes that are pretty much as they would leave the showroom floor, bar a few race specific parts, with almost zero prep, and finish where they have is incredible. In the new adventure classes, we have been able to show what the Triumph Tiger 900 is capable of and that it is a true adventure bike. Whilst Sam’s lead in his class may look like we entered him in the wrong category, it allowed him to get some time on one of our Tiger machines in tough terrain, in preparation for his round the world record attempt, all without putting him at too much risk of injury. Jonny has shown what a world class rider he is, jumping from his enduro bike to the Tiger, and nearly taking the class victory. I’m sure if it hadn’t been for the issue with one of the additional race parts we used on day one, he’d be standing on the top of the box.
It’s definitely a proud day for us to have enjoyed being part of this event and the excitement in the new adventure classes”
Triumph didn’t just show up—they showed out. The Tiger 900 Rally Pro isn’t just built for weekend exploring or the daily commute. It’s a legitimate weapon in the gnarliest terrain on the planet.
Tiger 900 Rally Pro – The Real Deal
This isn’t the first time the Tiger 900’s made waves. It also took the win in the Trail class at the 2022 Baja Aragón with Iván Cervantes at the controls.
With 108 PS of peak power and 90 Nm of torque from its triple-cylinder T-plane crank motor, the Tiger 900 Rally Pro delivers smooth grunt, great feel, and serious off-road punch. Throw in cornering ABS, traction control, six rider modes (including Off-Road Pro), heated grips and seats, Brembo Stylema brakes, and fully adjustable Showa suspension, and you’ve got a bike that’s just as comfortable charging up a Romanian hillclimb as it is cruising across the country.
