Graham Jarvis has won the fifth round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, while also claiming a record-breaking seventh Red Bull Romaniacs victory.
Graham Jarvis has won round five of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at Red Bull Romaniacs 2022. This makes a historic seventh win for Jarvis at the infamous ‘world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rallye’.
Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT’s Teodor Kabakchiev filled out the second place on the podium and Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman finished third overall, retaking the championship lead. The fourth and final Offroad Day at Red Bull Romaniacs was won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler. It has been five years since Jarvis stood on the top step of the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rallye podium.
Jarvis had built a comfortable lead over his nearest rival, Teodor Kabakchiev which gave him confidence leading into the final Offroad Day. The 47-year-old, who later admitting to feeling fatigued, found a comfortable pace to stick to and began ticking off each checkpoint.
He made such headway he had time to spare arriving at the finishing arena in Gusterita and smoothly ascended the infamous final climb to become the overall winner. It was this time last year he was forced to retire due to a knee injury but he’s now back in the game and well within the fight for this year’s championship.
“It’s such an incredible feeling to win Red Bull Romaniacs again,” said Graham Jarvis. “I’ve done it seven times now, I don’t know what to say! In a race like this it takes a lot of effort all week to be there every day and I managed that. After last year’s knee injury I wasn’t sure how well I’d come back and if I’d be competitive again. It’s been a full year’s work, but I’ve done it. Not just getting back on the podium, but the top step too.
“Jarvis Racing Team is a full privateer effort, the guys around me are doing it because they love Hard Enduro as much as I do, so this win is for them as much as it is mine!”
The final day of racing in Romania delivered Teodor Kabakchiev his debut Red Bull Romaniacs podium and second top-three FIM Hard Enduro result of 2022. The young Bulgarian was four minutes faster in the early sections, but Jarvis’ advantage was just to great and Kabakchiev had to settle for the runner-up position.
Kabakchiev was please with his result. “To get my first Red Bull Romaniacs podium is something special for sure,” he said. “I’ve followed this race and these Hard Enduro legends since I was a kid, so being on the podium is amazing. The gap to Graham was big, but you never know what can happen in Hard Enduro, so I raced hard on the final day.”
Mario Roman completed the top three overall at round five for Sherco Factory Racing moving him back into the overall lead in this year’s title fight.
“I’m super happy with third overall and finishing on the podium.” said Mario. ” Today was probably the hardest day of the week, the uphill sections just kept coming one after the other. All week my pace was pretty solid, but hats off to Teodor he was riding well. And Graham, well he’s just as amazing as ever. Overall it’s been a good result for the championship too. I’m now leading. Let’s hope I can build on that in the USA.”
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship now heads to North America for round six and Red Bull TKO on August 11-14.
Results: Round 5, Red Bull Romaniacs
Offroad Day 4
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 4:20:46;
2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 4:22:56;
3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 4:24:03;
4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 4:24:26;
5. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 4:31:15;
6. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 4:41:33;
7. Matthew Green (KTM) 5:22:10;
8. Dominik Olszowy (GASGAS) 5:23:26;
9. Suff Sella (KTM) 5:30:38;
10. David Cyprian (KTM) 5:42:59…
Provisional Final Classification
1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 21:05:40;
2. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 21:14:12;
3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 21:19:06;
4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 21:38:39;
5. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 21:44:10;
6. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 22:58:06;
7. Matthew Green (KTM) 24:09:18;
8. David Cyprian (KTM) 24:47:43;
9. Suff Sella (KTM) 25:59:49;
10. Rigor Rico (KTM) 28:03:02…
Championship Standings (After round 5)
1. Mario Roman (Sherco) 73pts;
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 70pts;
3. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 62pts;
4. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 60pts;
5. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 52pts…