Red Bull Romaniacs

[Crisis management]

Mr Birch wins the prologue!

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[bogan]

legend! romaniacs is some good shit, fucking brutal course though, just finishing it makes you a legend.

[charles23]

and how about ADRIAN BROUGHTON coming second in the Expert Single Class for the Prologue.

[K6K]

Chris came second for the day 40 minutes behind Jarvis. Adrian Broughton was one of the first experts to reach the service point. It sounds like a lot of people aren't making it up the hills to even get to the first service due to the weather.

[vazza]

KTM factory rider Chris Birch second on day one of the Red Bull Romaniacs ahead of Britain’s Graham Jarvis saying: “This stage was maybe the toughest one I’ve ever ridden. I’m happy to have reached the finish only 40 minutes after Graham. He was riding in his own class today – my full respect goes out to him!” Taddy Blazusiak out with injured shoulder after a crash.
www.redbullromaniacs.com

I wonder if taddy is out of the whole race.. Sucks!

[noobi]

Day 1 of race proper
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[Crisis management]

From Chris' website via his wife (I think), sounds like he has some catching up to do.

"Chris had to catch and pass Jarvis by 40 minutes today. Weather was a lot better, some more open fast tracks too.

Letti caught Chris on a hill and passed him. Chris had some bike probs but managed to fix them after quite some time lost and a bit of help.

Letti was the one who won today, next was Paul Bolton. Chris ended up 5th for day 2.

Jarivs had some bike problems and I don't see him in unofficial results so he may have dropped out?

But on unofficial results Chris is leading Letti by 50 minutes. His bike is getting lots of love so it should be ready to race for day 3.

He says it was another hard day - two more to go yet boy!"

[Danger]

Great riding by Chris, lets take it out!

[takitimu]

How hard is a day that can make chris & andreas look like that !!, damn well done chris & kick ass for next 2 days.

[Crasherfromwayback]

They're all tough cunts. Respect!

[BoristheBiter]

They're all tough cunts. Respect!

But they make it look so easy.

[Crisis management]

Day 2

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[Crisis management]

More from Mr Birchs' website.....

Day 3 (from Monica)

Firstly, is anyone else going nuts watching the live tracking!! More intense than a game of soccer with blind refs ...

Today Chris was doing well for more than first half, then electrics on the bike went wrong. He said that in all his years of riding KTM he has never ever ever had a problem with electics (and I agree - so much so that when I heard that, I thought 'but there isn't any electrics...'). Luckily when it happened today he was able to be reached by service crew and got up and running again.

Then it was Africa speed all over again as he tried to catch up time on Andreas. When I spoke to him he didn't realise that (according to reports) he was still in the lead overall, so he was quite pleased. He says he wishes he can just ride at race pace all day!

So though there are no official results, from reports online and my basic maths, we think he is still 20 something minutes ahead overall heading into the last day.

Fingers are crossed!! He is enjoying it I think, apart from the issues with electrics ...

[Crasherfromwayback]

Awesome effort, and thanks for the updates!

[theblacksmith]

Cheers for the update Monica. Hope it all goes well for him. Give him our best wishes.

[xen]

Yea cheers for the updates

Birchy FTW!

[Meatbomb]

Be choice if he took it out this year! good luck to him :)

[noobi]

Chris Birch arrives only a few minutes behind of Jarvis - and wins the Red Bull Romaniacs for the first time in his career! (30/06/2010 12:42:54 , GMT+3 | präserl/enduroguru)

The blazingly fast New Zealander didn't go for safety on this last stage - in fact, Birch even rode 6 minutes faster than Graham Jarvis on the last 126 km of this years Romaniacs and secured his first ever win at the world's toughest Enduro Rallye. "I'm extremely happy today, because regarding all my technical problems, I didn't even think that I would finish the race.", sais an all smiling Chris Birch.


Congrats Chris, your a legend

[K6K]

Hell yeah congrats Chris!

[EXCDirt]

WoW!
He got it! Awesome!
Must have been a hard fight all the way to the end.
Very well done.

[Bradz]

Good One Birchy
Congrats!!!

[krad_nz]

Thats amazing. Must feel fantastic given all the technical issues you had.

[Woodman]

Awesome, Congrats.

Its a very cool event that. love it.

[flyingcr250]

wicked !!
congrats

[Reckless]

Ferkin ace effort!! Good on Birchy! great result!!

[Ktmboy]

Yes, congrats to Chris and the team. Great effort on the worlds stage. Nomination for something surely?

[flyingcr250]

good on riaan van niekerk for helping chris out with some spare parts from his own race bike.

[xen]

Badass !!

Great job :clap:

[charles23]

Congratulations Chris you knocked the bugger over...

[Rupe]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Great to see him win such a hard event so far from home. Hopefully he'll get some recognision for his efforts

[Meatbomb]

Thats choice! he definatley deserved a win! :)

[takitimu]

Awesome stuff, great work Chris & all who helped him !!!.

[Danger]

Great riding Chris glad it all came together! :Punk:

[andy 101]

Awsome achievment, congrats to chris and team.

[Crisis management]

What can you say...it's the sort of ride us mere mortals would last 30 seconds on! Well done Chris! :Punk:

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[4stroke]

bloody awsome stuff, i must say its a well deseverd win, congrates big time

[barty5]

Wicked stuff well done.

[Crisis management]

I will post up the last days video when it turns up on the Romaniacs site (probably tonight sometime)....although the one posted above says "day 4" it's actually day 3 of the enduro as they count the Prologue as day 1.

No, it doesn't make any sense to me either.

[RJM]

Awesome news indeed. As others have said he comes across as a very nice guy! Thanks for the updates on here too.

They usually put out a DVD of Red Bull Romaniacs don't they? This years would certainly be worth getting hold of.

[billaroo]

After some prompting from some WMCC club stalwarts the tv channels have decided to run a news item Birchy's big Romaniacs win- I've just seen it on TV 1's midday news so keep your eyes peeled tonight.

[4stroke]

After some prompting from some WMCC club stalwarts the tv channels have decided to run a news item Birchy's big Romaniacs win- I've just seen it on TV 1's midday news so keep your eyes peeled tonight.

good work billaroo:Punk::Punk::niceone::niceone:

[NordieBoy]

Roof of Africa 2009
Romaniacs 2010

Now for the rest...
Erzburg, The Tough 1, Hells Gate, Last Man Standing, Wairoa Gorge...

[.chris]

It is pretty shocking how liittle NZ media care about this sort of thing. lucky we have the internet eh!

Congrats Chris.
http://www.redbullromaniacs.com/typo3temp/newstmb_200_0Photo_Predrag_Vuckovic_0018.jpg

[flyingcr250]

It is pretty shocking how liittle NZ media care about this sort of thing. lucky we have the internet eh!

Congrats Chris.
http://www.redbullromaniacs.com/typo3temp/newstmb_200_0Photo_Predrag_Vuckovic_0018.jpg

maybe if he had a rugby ball tied to his bike with an all whites jersey the nz media might have taken notice of him lol

[Danger]

If you read above you will see its already been on TV today and if you watch tonights news you might see the item again.

[oldguy]

awesome stuff Chris, congrats 2007 :third: 2008 :third: 2009 :second: 2010:first::woohoo:

[SpikedPunch]

Saw nothing on one news tonight, boo :(

[noobi]

There was nothing on 1 news tonight, although they did have an article and a short phone interview on the midday news, 3 news had all of about 15seconds of coverage.

[SpikedPunch]

They also had an article about Wonder Woman's new outfit and people camping out to watch Twilight :/

[CHOPPA]

If you want news coverage its up to Chris and Red Bull or whoever do his marketing to contact them.

[oldguy]

Prologue testing FaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaK that.

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[.chris]

Prologue testing FaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaK that.



I would definately have a crack (on your bike, not my own, NO SIR!)

[Crisis management]

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[sosman]

Awesome stuff....Yeah for birchy

[motor_mayhem]

That is an outstanding achievement, someone get that man a Halberg. A shame that the TV news thinks that whether the AB's will get a bonus for the RWC or not is more important.

I unwittingly met CB in Wellington at one of the moonshine trailrides, he was the guy parked next to us with a 2 smoker when I happened to be looking for someone to receive a donation of some premixed fuel as I had just switched to 4 stroke. After winning(I think) the enduro the day before, he was out for a few more laps of the track, I barely survived one lap, including taking numerous breaks.

[theblacksmith]

Great result Birchy-way to go mate!

[FlangMasterJ]

I guess you guys missed the bit on Sports Tonight last night?

Well done Chris! I might have to buy the DVD when it comes out.

[NordieBoy]

Hopefully there'll be some footage that's not "sanitised" for the weak of heart.

[Crisis management]

I found this site via Adv rider, lots of videos!

http://www.sibiul.ro/evenimente-sportive/red-bull-romaniacs-2010.html

Obviously not in english, but then we only look at the pictures anyway......

[buffstar]

Good shit mr birch!!!!!:yes:

Whoop Whooooop :Punk: :scooter: :Punk:

[Rmxer]

Legend!! congratulations!

[oldguy]

I would diffinitely shout, Riaan Van Niekerk a :drinkup: beer, that was good of him to stop and help Chris out.

[IIIRII]

I think you guys are missing the point, clearly most of NZ is more interested in
Rugby
More Rugby
Someone who knows someone who plays Rugby
Someone who knows someone who lives next door to someone who plays Rugby
Someone that used to play Rugby but then moved next door to someone whose father used to play Rugby
Someone who is thinking of taking up Rugby, but still unsure
Some American basketball player no one has even heard of or gives a shit abouts struggle to live on only 10 million $us per year
Someones cat stuck in a tree in Pennsilvania
Whether or not All Whites should be pronounced All Fights(to be politcally correct)
Followed by
some guy did something on a bike, but is thinkjing of taking up Rugby


Yawn....
The problem with this nation and its inability to recognise world class athletes in anything other than Rugby is not new ....

[4stroke]

I think you guys are missing the point, clearly most of NZ is more interested in
Rugby
More Rugby
Someone who knows someone who plays Rugby
Someone who knows someone who lives next door to someone who plays Rugby
Someone that used to play Rugby but then moved next door to someone whose father used to play Rugby
Someone who is thinking of taking up Rugby, but still unsure
Some American basketball player no one has even heard of or gives a shit abouts struggle to live on only 10 million $us per year
Someones cat stuck in a tree in Pennsilvania
Whether or not All Whites should be pronounced All Fights(to be politcally correct)
Followed by
some guy did something on a bike, but is thinkjing of taking up Rugby


Yawn....
The problem with this nation and its inability to recognise world class athletes in anything other than Rugby is not new ....

yup your totaly right, im over rugby i used to be a fan but cant stand it any more, rather watch the cricket between 2 unknown nations lol, thats after motorsport though.

[NordieBoy]

I think you guys are missing the point, clearly most of NZ is more interested in
Rugby

The problem with this nation and its inability to recognise world class athletes in anything other than Rugby is not new ....

Ummm...

It's football now.

Rugby is sooo last week.

[noobi]

Ummm...

It's football now.

Rugby is sooo last week.

Nah, football was last week, rugby is still the first thing on most nights...

[Bradz]

Nah, football was last week, rugby is still the first thing on most nights...

Most nights, every night.. so and so rugby player was at so and so school today... blah blah blah... something like that..

[CHOPPA]

Do you think TVNZ go to all these rugby games and soccer games and record all the footage themselves??

The whole problem is everyone in Motorcycling has this same attitude we think everything is going to get handed to us and TVNZ is going to come with there cameras and report on the races. Well guess what it doesnt work like that, if someone had pre warned TVNZ and organised a press release, some media quality interesting footage etc etc they would run the story.

If you want your bike fixed do you think your mechanic is going to call you up and come pick it up? Or do you call him and drop it off? Andy wrote a good article in the Kiwirider last month about very similar stuff like getting yourself exposure etc in magazines etc They are not gonna come to you, you have to do some work yourself

[Ktmboy]

Haters you lot.!!
Well I went to rugby today. There was 500 players at the park. Probably 500 at the next park. Its a nice balance having an interest in other sports. Get over it. Its a numbers game and unfortunately Off roading is in the minority.

Chris had an pre Romaniacs interview on the Red Bull show last night for about 5-10 minutes. Was bloody good.

[CHOPPA]

But yeah still no matter what we do there will still be too much bloody rugby & congrats to CB I cant begin to imagine how tough an event like that would be and to beat world class riders like that is huge.

Im surprised instead of doing one off extreme type events like this that Chris hasnt been picked up for a world enduro team or something

[Ktmboy]

CB rates about 50th in a ISDE event. Its not really his thing now days.
His nich is extreme events and that makes its even harder to get coverage for the ltd participants.

Don't get me wrong we all support him but again its the numbers thing. One way of helping the likes of CB and Mead etc is if we do more of the Red Bull City scrambles etc.

Why can't we have a Romaniacs or an Ezberg here in NZ and make it an Iconic event? Thoughts comments??

[barty5]

would be awesome to see here reckon the greenies would allow a ride up the sth island( might hurt a snail) lots a big hills down there or some other place??

[trailblazer]

congrats cb it was an awesome race. Now i think you owe someone a :drinkup: bourbon or 3

[xen]

Why can't we have a Romaniacs or an Ezberg here in NZ and make it an Iconic event? Thoughts comments??

Hell yeah, reckon we'd have the gnarly terrain for it, big thing, would the riders pay to get over here?? If the sponsored rides are convinced, the rest will follow?

[Danger]

Double post forum playing up.

[Danger]

For those that don't read the Herald you missed this.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motorsport/news/article.cfm?c_id=66&objectid=10656087

Just about every sport I've been involved in has been the same, a minority sport and everyone complains about too little coverage and until someone gets off their butt instead of complaining about it and does something about supplying the media with something they can use it ain't gonna change. Heck does MTB racing even exist these days? We used to have epic races little more than 10 years ago covering 45-70km of single track in Riverhead or in Woodhill or the Valley of Doom (mean uphill climbs and decents). Then powers that be decided that we should have more spectator friendly races so we ended up doing short 3-5 circuits of the same course. Killed the sport in my opinion for the rider, made the races boring for the participants and guess what, MTB is not a good spectator sport so they should cater for the rider not the spectator. Don't even know if there are still MTB races happening these days, never hear anything about Aucklands MTB scene, although I often hear Marco Renalli on Sports Talk reporting on races they have in the Wellington area. Thats a case of someone getting on the phone and calling and getting some coverage letting people know that there are people participating in these sports. We used to have about 3 MTB races a month through different clubs or organisations in the Auckland area, can't remember hearing anything for ten years so don't know if anything is happening these days with MTB or not. I guess not, but if someone did call Sports Talk and raised awareness of any races perhaps someone listening might think, heck I might be keen to give that a go, and the sport might pick up some new participants and grow.

Never hear anyone call up Sports Talk about enduro or off road races in New Zealand or around the world, except perhaps the Tarawera 100. Over the last few years I have heard the Kings, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley (only a couple of weeks ago), Katherine Prumm all on Sports Talk promoting themselves and MX. These people are being pro active and are great for their sponsors generally. My understanding is that participant numbers in enduros are on the decline.

Most people have little than a passing interest in minority sports unless they are involved in the sport themselves. But it sure helps raise awareness that there are people participating in these sports if one person in the sport picks up the phone and talks to someone in the media or submits a story occasionally. Takes very little effort really but most Kiwi's would rather moan that no one is doing it rather than take the initiative and do it themselves.

[ovisopa]

Hello guys, in the rally days I couldn't promote my photos and videos on forums I was almost all the day on the mountain after the riders, now I have some more time to show the videos and photos to others :)

To see all the links to photo albums (7 different photo albums) and videos (12 so far, more to come..) check out this link :

Red Bull Romaniacs 2010 Photos and Videos (http://www.sibiul.ro/evenimente-sportive/red-bull-romaniacs-2010.html)

We had a bad weather, it rained almost every day, this pic is made in the Prolog race ...
http://www.sibiul.ro/galerie-poze-sibiu/2-prolog-red-bull-romaniacs-2010-86342603.jpg

I still have to edit some more videos, made in Day 1 and Day 2, after I'll upload them I'll be back and let you know.

Congrats to Chirs !!!

[warewolf]

Rugby is NZ's national sport... logic doesn't enter in to it. Look at the waste of time the premier national evening news broadcast (cough, cough) yesterday spent on some rugby players tossing gumboots... a 10 minute segment in the middle of the news hour. Surely there was something to cover that was actually newsworthy, as opposed to what was basically entertainment fit for wimmins gossip rags. Where's the incisive journalism expected from the state broadcaster?!

There's another reason pointy-ball sports are over-represented in the media. Decades ago now the media barons in this part of the world picked a languishing minority sport they could buy then promote in their own media, in order to sell more of their own media. Football (aka soccer) is such a huge world-wide sport they couldn't afford to buy in. This is why there are more ppl in Australasia playing football every weekend than the pointy-ball versions, yet it gets poor media coverage. In Aussie they say more ppl play soccer on Sunday than go to church! The media is not necessarily showing the most popular sport - just the one the media wants ppl to see.

However if you want to play the media game, look to those same media barons. Who brought us one-day cricket? Media baron trying to make the game more appealing to the watchers so he could make more money. All sports are under pressure to appeal to spectators who are the revenue stream; it's the way of the world. Short intense forms get the media coverage because media is about the watcher not the player eg stadium supercross versus outdoor motocross. I've always thought Romaniacs was a half-decent attempt to be the SX of enduro, as it were - good on them.

I'd like to see the media spend less time pandering to rugby, and more time covering everything/anything else. But as has been noted, it's up to everything else to do their own PR. However, having been involved with the media on the odd occasion, I know how little they rate everything else. You'd think a world champ or at least winner of an international competition would pull some serious weight, but apparently not.

I guess in this information age, as local journalism deteriorates and the lines between TV/traditional broadcasting and the internet/digital media are blurred, one can at least access specifically what you want to see via the internet. Thankfully.

/rant

[Danger]

Haters you lot.!!
Chris had an pre Romaniacs interview on the Red Bull show last night for about 5-10 minutes. Was bloody good.

I saw this over the weekend and its been repeated several times, a bloody good watch.

Personally I like the pointy ball codes, NRL in particular and I watch most games over the weekend and most of the Rugby League associated programs.
As for the SX, I've got half of this season still on My Sky unwatched, as I usually fall asleep watching it. The reason the SX is popular as far as two wheeled coverage is concerned is because its cheaper to cover than outdoor MX with few cameras needed. I find that the highlights of the World MXGP's that are on TV most weekends this time of year is enough for me rather than four 40 min motos, although I would like to see some AMA outdoors. Watching one bike riding through the woods does nothing for me even though I am interested in the results of our top riders.
I would rather spend time riding my own bikes than watching others ride theirs, I seldom spectate at events unless its the very top riders that I want to see like at the International MX in Taupo a few years back or the ISDE we had. However the arm wrestle and athleticism that is Rugby League I find interesting, as well as the excellent Tour de France we get at this time of year (after week one anyway and once the riders get into the mountains).

Each to their own.