Red Bull Romaniacs on big-twin Travel-Enduros
The Red Bull Romaniacs has a reputation of being slightly “nuts" and a history of constantly raising the bar for Extreme Enduro. Riders and bikes have either been chewed up and spit out by the rally or lived up to the challenge and evolved year after year. Two Red Bull Romaniacs veterans who have been part of this evolution are Gerhard Forster and Chris Birch. And it is these two who are about to open a new chapter in the history of CRAZY: Chris and Gerhard are going to race the Red Bull Romaniacs on big-twin travel-Enduros (“Fat Ladies”)
To the surprise of the organizers, both had registered themselves independently to the Iron class. Eyebrows were raised, and the Red Bull Romaniacs team started wondering why two Gold Class veterans would show up in the Iron class. A few calls later it became clear that history was about to be written – both will attempt to finish the rally on big twins, Gerhard on a BMW and Chris on a KTM.
Chris Birch, supported by KTM, is going to ride a modified KTM 1190 Adventure from Mattighofen (Austria) to Sibiu (Romania) on the road. He will then use the same 1200 V-twin bike and race the Red Bull Romaniacs Iron class. Gerhard Forster, supported by Touratech, will bring a BMW R nineT based Touratech prototype (R9X 7) to Sibiu by truck. He will race the Red Bull Romaniacs Iron class on the BMW air-cooled twin cylinder boxer.
Both riders are professional Enduro trainers and frequent racers at Extreme Enduro events. They are both used to piloting “fat ladies”. Both bikes are heavily modified, the KTM Adventure by KTM and the BMW by Touratech. 
Chris Birch is a nine times competitor in Red Bull Romaniacs and has finished on the Gold Class podium five times including a win in 2010. He is a three time winner of the Roof of Africa Rally, eight times New Zealand Enduro champion and has competed successfully at the Dakar Rally.
As former BMW factory rider and Red Bull Romaniacs veteran, Gerhard Forster was Touratech`s first choice and crazy enough to agree to pilot the twin cylinder boxer. Forster has ridden BMW HP2 enduros in a variety of races and has also finished in the Gold Class Top10 five times at the Red Bull Romaniacs. Other achievements of Gerhard Forster are: six time finisher at the Erzberg Rodeo, a 4th place at the Roof of Africa and a 2nd place at the Getzenrodeo. (source: red bull romaniacs)