Following the collapse of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the two biggest names in extreme off-road racing—Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs—are taking matters into their own hands.
In a last-ditch effort to preserve world championship recognition for the sport, these iconic events will now independently award the Extreme Enduro World Champion and Extreme Enduro Rally World Champion titles in 2025.
For 30 years, Red Bull Erzbergrodeo has been the proving ground of Extreme Enduro, shaping the sport and setting the standard for off-road motorcycle racing. With riders from over 50 nations and a brutally unforgiving course, Erzberg has long been regarded as the pinnacle of the discipline. Now, in the absence of an official FIM championship, the race is stepping up to declare its winner the Extreme Enduro World Champion.
Event mastermind Karl Katoch did not mince words about the decision, explaining that Erzbergrodeo’s influence on the sport has always been undeniable. “Without Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship would never have existed. We joined the series because we recognized the importance of an official world championship, but economic challenges led to its cancellation. Now, we refuse to let the sport lose its highest-level title. Erzbergrodeo has always set the bar, and with the support of our partners, we are ensuring that Extreme Enduro’s best riders still have a world championship to fight for.”
Running for its 22nd edition in 2025, the Red Bull Romaniacs has long been considered the toughest multi-day rally in off-road racing. Featuring a brutal mix of extreme terrain, a legendary prologue in Sibiu, and four relentless off-road stages through the Carpathian Mountains, the event has pushed riders beyond their limits for two decades. Now, it will take on a new responsibility: crowning the Extreme Enduro Rally World Champion.
Romaniacs founder Martin Freinademetz acknowledged the importance of keeping world championship recognition alive, stating, “The FIM series gave us a way to crown a world champion, which the sport and its athletes deserve. But with that now gone, we had to act. Partnering with Erzbergrodeo, we’re making sure there’s still an elite championship for these riders to compete in. We’re also pushing new racing formats, like an E-motorcycle category in 2025, to evolve the sport and engage more fans worldwide.”
Romaniacs will continue to be one of the most globally diverse enduro races, with amateur and professional riders from 65 nations competing side by side. Prize money for top riders will remain a staple of the event, with Freinademetz emphasizing the need to support the athletes who dedicate themselves to the sport. “We are creative when it comes to live coverage and our media distribution serves not only the core scene but also the mass media around the world. The addition of new classes shows our typical pioneering spirit. We want to offer an even larger group of two-wheel offroad enthusiasts the opportunity to push themselves and their vehicles to their limits and compete with competitors from all continents.”
With the world championship status slipping away, Katoch and Freinademetz have united to protect the sport they helped build. Their decision to independently award world championship titles is a clear signal that Extreme Enduro’s top events will not sit back and let the discipline fade into uncertainty. “This sport has always been about overcoming the toughest challenges. Right now, the challenge is keeping world championship recognition alive, and we are stepping up to make sure that happens,” they said in a joint statement.
By crowning the Extreme Enduro World Champion at Erzbergrodeo and the Extreme Enduro Rally World Champion at Romaniacs, the two most prestigious races in the sport are making a final stand—ensuring that elite riders still have something to fight for in 2025 and beyond.
