Mario Román pilots the CFMOTO 450MT to victory in Red Bull Romaniacs 2026, conquering Romania’s grueling Carpathian Mountain terrain.
CFMOTO brand ambassador Mario Román clinched the Adventure Ultimate title at Red Bull Romaniacs 2026 in Sibiu, Romania, piloting a race-prepared CFMOTO 450MT. Román topped the In-city Prologue and dominated the grueling Carpathian Mountain off-road stages to finish over 14 minutes ahead of runner-up Pol Tarrés. CFMOTO brought nearly 40 riders across 15 countries, sweeping the Adventure Lite podium and taking third in Adventure Core, demonstrating the durability and high-performance capability of its expanding MT Adventure motorcycle lineup.
– Dee Lane | Traffic Network PH
Mario Román Serrano and CFMOTO complete a three-class Adventure sweep at Red Bull Romaniacs 2026
OFFICIAL RELEASE: CFMOTO Philippines | PUBLISHER: ADVAI
Mario Román Serrano put the CFMOTO 450MT on top of Red Bull Romaniacs 2026 with victory in the Adventure Ultimate class, delivering a landmark result for CFMOTO at one of the toughest off-road motorcycle events in the world. The success extended across the Adventure categories, with CFMOTO riders taking victory in all three classes. Alongside Román’s Ultimate triumph, Rene Columna secured the Adventure Core title, while Chinese rider He Guishu claimed the Adventure Lite victory.
Recognized as one of the toughest Hard Enduro and Adventure Bike Rallyes in the world, Red Bull Romaniacs 2026 took place from July 28 to August 1 around Sibiu, Romania. From the In-city Prolog to four Offroad Days in the Southern Carpathian Mountains, the event was a full measure of distance, terrain and judgement, asking riders and motorcycles to keep adapting from one test to the next.
CFMOTO joined Romaniacs for a second year as a major event sponsor and brought nearly 40 riders from 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The line-up covered Adventure Ultimate, Adventure Core and Adventure Lite, with the 450MT as the most widely used CFMOTO model. The 800MT-X and the 1000MT-X added further presence for the MT family. The new 1000MT-X also made a strong impression in the line-up, bringing torque-rich litre-class power, true ADV geometry and a 21-inch front / 18-inch rear spoked wheel set-up to the same demanding Romaniacs terrain. It was the 450MT that carried the sharpest storyline through Román’s title charge — it was a statement of untapped potential, proving that this machine is capable of far more than its spec sheet suggests.
Román brought years of Enduro experience and previous podium success at Red Bull Romaniacs, but Adventure Ultimate still offered a fresh challenge aboard the CFMOTO 450MT. Before the race, this CFMOTO brand ambassador also joined the participating riders for a training session, sharing some of his experience before the real test began.
The first signs were immediate. Román attacked the In-city Prolog, found rhythm on the urban course and topped the Adventure Ultimate class. The race then moved into the demanding terrain that defines Romaniacs, combining mining landscapes with rough mountain sections.
“The 450MT worked very well,” said Román after Offroad Day 1. The comment was simple, but it fitted the way the race was being won. The 450MT has already become one of CFMOTO’s most recognized global Adventure models, helped by its light handling, multi-terrain versatility and off-road-ready wheel set-up. In Romania, those qualities were given a harder job: the bike needed to climb, absorb, turn, hold momentum and keep Román confident when fatigue and terrain began to build together.
The race machine was based on the CFMOTO 450MT and set up for the demands of Red Bull Romaniacs. The production bike already carries the right adventure ingredients: long-travel KYB suspension, useful ground clearance and a 21-inch front / 18-inch rear tyre set-up for dirt and broken terrain. In Romania, those ingredients had to work under pressure. They helped the 450MT pick lines, work through obstacles and keep moving through one of the toughest Adventure tests of the year.
Selected race-use components also formed part of the package. Where fitted, the Akrapovič race-use exhaust system was constructed completely from lightweight, high-grade titanium alloys, offering an impressive weight saving, increased response through the entire rev range, and increased power and torque. The muffler’s surface design also adds strength, enhancing resilience in demanding conditions.
Across the remaining Offroad Days, Román’s task was not to win one dramatic moment but to keep repeating the right choices. He managed the pressure, kept the 450MT in the fight and pushed when the mountains allowed. By the end of the week, he crossed the finish line 14 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of runner-up Pol Tarrés to claim the Adventure Ultimate crown, and the CFMOTO 450MT had turned its Adventure reputation into a race-winning performance.
Beyond the three class victories, CFMOTO riders also delivered strong results across the Adventure categories. In Adventure Core, Chris Power secured a podium finish with third overall, while Adventure Lite saw CFMOTO riders fill all three podium positions. Chinese riders also competed in Adventure Core and Adventure Lite, joining the wider CFMOTO rider line-up at Romaniacs.
Adventure Ultimate champion Mario Román shared his emotions after securing victory: “I want to say thank you to all of you for the cheering and messages, and for motivating me through all these tough days of competition. I did my best during the whole week, and I’m so proud of myself.”
Adventure Core winner Rene Columna reflected on the result after the race: “I don’t have words to explain how happy I am. I’m happy with the bike, the team and my performance.”
For Chinese rider He Guishu, the result also represented a step onto the international stage: “Winning first place in the CFMOTO qualifier this year gave me the opportunity to step onto this international stage, and I feel very honored.”
For CFMOTO, Red Bull Romaniacs 2026 offered more than just the final standings. It was a different test measured in rocks, roots, fatigue, navigation, teamwork and judgement, where durability, control and trust mattered as much as speed.
With its strong performance at Red Bull Romaniacs 2026, CFMOTO left Sibiu with evidence as well as momentum. The brand tested the MT range in one of Adventure riding’s most demanding environments, while continuing a wider story built through motorcycle competition and rider experiences — from Moto2 and Moto3 racing to the CFMOTO MT CHALLENGE. Across these platforms, CFMOTO continues to learn from competition, connect with riders and develop the machines that define its growing global presence.
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