BMW factory rider Andreas Lettenbichler took a sensational victory at the 2009 Red Bull Romaniacs. Competing in the event for the first time, 'Letti' dominated on his G 450 X to win the four-day spectacle by over 50 minutes. Having missed last year's competition through a last-minute injury, the German rider arrived in Romania determined to prove his skills against some of the most talented enduro riders on the planet. The style in which he took the crown means that Letti has now etched his name into Romaniacs folklore and reiterated his position among the world's elite off-road riders. 

Held between August 15 and 19, this year's Romaniacs was the toughest yet. Although weather conditions were vastly improved on previous years, competitors were still faced with the prospect of an extremely difficult Prologue stage. This was followed by four days of gruelling enduro riding in the forests around the Romanian city of Sibiu, during which they covered over 800 kilometres.

Despite having never ridden at the event before, Letti quickly got to grips with the course and mounted a late charge on day four to leave the rest of the field far behind him and collect the coveted winner's medal.

"It's a great feeling to have won the Red Bull Romaniacs, particularly as it was my first time at the event," says Letti. "The result exceeded all my expectations. I went to Romania hoping for a place in the top five, so to win was extra special. The conditions were almost perfect, although the ground was quite dry, but all riders had to deal with the same conditions. Overall, the course was fantastic - a mix of technical sections and fast, flowing stages, all of which suited my riding style."

The result not only signifies a landmark in Letti's career, it also proves the credentials of the BMW G 450 X in international motorsport. Since its introduction in 2007, the sports enduro machine has chalked up a series of impressive results in both national and international off-road events. The latest success, in one of the most extreme off-road motorcycling events, has cemented the G 450 X as a true world-beater.

"The G 450 X coped really well with the course and over four very long days of riding, it didn't miss a beat," reveals Letti. "The power of the G 450 X was an advantage in the fast sections and it was also excellent in the technical sections. I have a lot of experience in technical riding, so the bike complemented my style and we got the win we deserved!"

The event began with the traditional curtain raiser - the Prologue - during which riders encountered a host of obstacles designed to test their skill, concentration and bike control to the limit. As well as providing fantastic entertainment for the crowd, the Prologue also served as the qualification round ahead of the main event, which got underway on day two. "I won the qualification for the Prologue and felt very confident," says Letti. "However in the main Prologue, I got off to a bad start and as a result, I could only finish in fourth place. On reflection though, this wasn't too bad as it put me just behind the fastest guys for the start of the race."

On each of the next four days, riders covered up to 200 kilometres of the toughest terrain imaginable and spent in excess of eight hours at the controls of their bikes as they navigated their way around a meticulously planned course. Due to the sheer size of the riding area, competitors were even equipped with GPS systems in order to reach each checkpoint!

With his lack of experience in the Sibiu countryside and at this type of 'rally' enduro, Letti appeared to be at an immediate disadvantage as the race began. However, he turned his qualification position in his favour and began to follow the more experienced riders to establish the best line. Having started the fourth and final day just 14 seconds behind race leader Cyril Despres, Letti was well-placed, and it was an almost impossible climb during one of the sections that proved decisive. While Letti used all the skills acquired in his previous career as a trials rider to make it over the top, the French Dakar ace didn't even attempt to conquer the obstacle. As a result, Despres received a hefty time penalty and Letti brought home the win.

The Bavarian explains his tactics: "As it was my first time, I followed the more experienced riders for a time at the start of the race to ensure that I was taking the correct lines. It was also my first time using the GPS navigation, which took me some time to get used to. However, after the second day, I felt comfortable and began to use my experience to take control."

"I didn't know quite what to expect, but having spoken to people who had competed there before, I knew it would be tough," he continues. "It was completely different to what I am used to. The longest time I spend on the bike is usually a few hours, so riding for seven or eight hours a day came as a bit of a shock! However, before the event I trained well and worked on my endurance. I didn't do anything special to prepare myself, I just made sure I was in the best shape possible."

With such a positive end to his inaugural Red Bull Romaniacs, there's little wonder why Letti is full of praise for the event. "It's difficult to say what was the most enjoyable aspect of the event - I loved it all," he enthuses. "Overall, I think that the landscape and location were amazing. The feeling of being out in the wilderness was fantastic and a real challenge for me."

One rider who had a less enjoyable Romaniacs was Letti's BMW factory team mate, Gerhard Forster. The German had finished as runner-up in Romania last year and was one of the favourites for the overall victory this year. After the third day, the German was with the leading group of riders in fourth place but on the final day, Forster misjudged a bump in the terrain and crashed, injuring his shoulder and ending his race effort. The off-road ace is currently recuperating in hospital and will be hoping for a speedy recovery ahead of BMW Motorrad Motorsport's next extreme enduro challenge - the legendary Roof of Africa - at the end of November.

However, for now, Letti and BMW Motorrad Motorsport can savour their achievements and celebrate being crowned 2009 Red Bull Romaniacs champions.

2. Chris Birch (NZL) KTM, 21:21:01

3. Cyril Despres (AND) KTM, 22:11:25

4. Lionel Seydoux (CH) KTM, 22:55:18

5. Paul Bolton (GBR) KTM, 23:38:05

6. Darryl Curtis (RSA) KTM, 23:41:36

7. Melcior Faja Beltran (ESP) GasGas, 23:55:51

8. Erich Brandauer (AUT), 25:04:24

9. Shane Cuthbertson (CAN) Husaberg, 25:20:55

10. Dieter Happ (AUT) Husaberg, 25:42:55