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RED BULL ROMANIACS 2005
STAGE 3, AUGUST 3rd 2005, SIBIU-PETROSANI

PRO-CLASS: AKOS VARGA (HUN) RUINS HATTRICK OF DESPRES BY TAKING THE WIN ON STAGE 3…!
On today’s 3rd stage of the Red Bull Romaniacs the riders were offered definitely more high-speed than during the previous days. The track lead the Rallye over the mountains and through the hills to the small town called Petrosani, about 200 km southwest of Sibiu. The whole Rallye Trek moved to the stage’s finish at Petrosani to welcome the riders early and spend a night outside of Sibiu.

Cyril Despres’ started off with an annoying 2-minutes penalty – the French rider appeared 10 minutes too late at the starting line and had to face the strictness of the Romanian FRM officials!

But the real sensation happened to occur out on the racetrack: overall leader Cyril Despres (FRA) drowned himself and his bike at a river crossing and had to let some other riders pass him at this section. The KTM factory rider took the full menue – including a cold shower, followed by a refreshing bath including a helmet cleaning on the outside as well as on the inside…

The following riders couldn’t believe it  – Cyril Despres down in a river?! Even for the best Enduro riders it won’t happen that often to overtake a rider like Despres that easy!
Despres dried his KTM and charged back to the top of the field, catching one rider after the other. It was only for an unleashed Akos Varga, a successful Dakar competitor from Hungary, who defeated Despresx attack and rode faster than Cyril today. Despres second place doesn’t play any major role for thze overall, as he has an already comfortable lead by more than 2,5 hours on his competitors…

GERHARD FORSTER (GER) RESIGNS WITH BROKEN SHOULDER!
Bad luck for German rider Gerhard Forster, who entered the track second to Despres. While Forster was feeling comfortably upon the fast sections, he crashed compeltely unexpected at a trial-style obstacle at low speed. A huge tree was blocking the trail and Forster fell hard on his shoulder while trying to clear the obsatcle. The result was a broken shoulder and an early end of the Rallye for the blazingly fast German.

Darryl Curtis (RSA) onve again had a special day of his own. After technical problems and a lot of repair time yesterday, the South African was hoping for a calm and eventless day in the woods. In fact, the engine of his KTM EXC 250 was seriously bad mooded after last day’s tortures. After a few miles down the track, Darryl’s engine started to fall in pieces. You have to tip your hat to Darryl Curtis, as the ever-friendly top rider somehow managed to bring his wounded pony to the finish line.

Riaan Van Niekerk decided to ride the stage together with Darryl Curtis, just to lend a helping hand in case of technical emergency. The tremendous determination of the South African duet may be best measured upon the fact, that they arrived the finish line less than 20 minutes behind Varga – with a broken bike!

Thomas Günther (GER) showed an incredibly strong performance today – the Husaberg mounted pilot reached the finish line only 10 minutes behind Varga and celebrated his best stage result at the Red Bull Romaniacs 2005. Günther rode with a lot of determination and without any navigation flaws, and even mastered the nasty river crossing quite smart – he used a small bridge down the river, calculating some 15 minutes penalty but riding away with dry feet! Thomas couls improve to fifth overall in the rankings.

Overall raqnking after stage 3 (03.08.2005)
1. Cyril Despres (FRA, KTM)             21:14:21
2. Riaan Van Niekerk (RSA, KTM) 23:55:27
3. Darryl Curtis (RSA, KTM)             24:11:33
4. Erich Brandauer (AUT, Husaberg)      24:27:17
5. Thomas Günther (GER, Husaberg)       26:27:22
6. Peter Katai (HUN, KTM)               27:51:40
7. Dieter Happ (AUT, KTM)               28:38:40
8. Matthias Weichselmann (AUT, KTM)     29:52:16
9. Stefan Müller (GER, KTM)             32:31:46
10. Tristan Sol (RSA, KTM)              32:39:30       

TEAM-CLASS: FIRST STAGE VICTORY FOR TEAM KORNSPITZ (AUT, KTM) – DIRT GIRL LISI MUCHA AND TEAMMATE HANNES BLAUENSTEINER GIVE ALL THEY HAVE!

Highly motivated and still superfit! Whoever expected the Austrian Dirt-Girl Lisi Mucha to resign to the challenges of the Red Bull Romaniacs – think again! Together with her teammate Hannes Blauensteiner, the 30-years old Viennese lady unleashed her raw speed on the track today. Team Kornspitz finished 19 minutes ahead of their main competitors Team Egly Racing 1.

Team Egly Racing 1 from Romania was riding absolutely flawless today, but the boys didn’t had the determination of the Austrians on the tablet. Emanuel Gyenes and Laszlo Olah still managed to defend their lead, but they have to show a little more heart tomorrow to keep on the top.

Third place was celebrated once more under the Austrian flag: Gerhard Treitler and Andreas Hölzl of Team Schiedel/KTM couldn’t repeat their victory of last day’s stage, but delivered a solid performance throughout the day. The guys are still holding fifth place overall.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth on the stages, but Third overall…?! The guys of Team Flatout Fightclub (AUT) really do know true rallye tactics. The Mocker brothers from Tyrol will not be able to repeat their last year’s victory, but they’re on a straight way to the podium…!

Overall ranking after stage 3 (03.08.2005)
1. Team Egly Racing 1 (ROM)             23:26:16
2. Team Kornspitz (AUT)         23:34:35
3. Team Flatout Fightclub (AUT) 27:40:35
4. Team Dust’N Dirt (GER)               28:06:44
5. Team Schiedel/KTM            32:19:18

THE LAST STAGE – GET READY FOR THE FINAL ACTION
Right out of Petrosani the going gets rough – the riders head into the woods and have to climb straight up into the mountains! Within the first 25 km of the track, the riders have already added more than 2.500 elevation meters to their record!

The stage is technically demanding, though rideable for every ambitious offroad racer.
The track features selective uphill paths through the forests as well as extended single trails alongside the top of the mountains, following the old borderlines of the Monarchy! The first highlight of the day will be the ski piste at Parang, where the riders have to hold their throttles wide open to go up the piste underneath the elevator…! It’s a perfect place for spectators to watch the skills and determination of each competitor. The afternoon offers a visit to the beautiful town of Sadu as well as the possibility to cool down a little when crossing the Sadu river. The riders then head back over floating green hills to the day’s finish in Sibiu.

More news will be online soon, so stay tuned in at the Red Bull Romaniacs 2005!
Martin Kettner
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Red Bull Romaniacs
Press/Media Services
www.redbullromaniacs.com