ROMANIACS: DAY THREE- JARVIS STILL IN COMMAND

Graham Jarvis put the pedal down on day three, keeping the charging Lettenbichler at bay. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool

Jarvis Racing Team’s Graham Jarvis held firm to win Off-road Day 3 at Red Bull Romaniacs, round five of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Edging ever closer to a historic seventh win at the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rally, Jarvis emerged from the tough penultimate day of racing as the winner.

Manuel Lettenbichler used a lot of energy on day two to take the win. On day three, he could only hang with the older Jarvis finishing second for the day. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler had to settle for second best on the day, behind Jarvis. Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman finished out the latter half of the day strong to take third.

For Jarvis this stage victory was his second of the week, sees him extend his race lead to almost 16 minutes with just one more day remaining. Claiming the overall victory will see Graham secure a historic seventh Red Bull Romaniacs win.

After yesterday’s maximum attack, Lettenbichler found he didn’t have enough in the tank today to push again at 100 per cent. And with Jarvis upping the pace, the German was forced to settle in behind the Husqvarna rider and ride together. Moving up to sixth overall in classification, the KTM rider will aim to go all-out tomorrow to claim the final stage win.

Mario Roman battled with Walkner and Kabakchiev, edging them out for third place on the day. He’s now within six minutes of second place overall. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool

Behind Jarvis and Lettenbichler, the battle for third was tight between Mario Roman, GASGAS’ Michael Walkner and Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT’s Teodor Kabakchiev. Walkner was on a mission during the morning and quickly caught up to Roman. The pair then stayed together to close in on Kabakchiev.

Michael Walkner and his factory GasGas had another strong day, finishing fourth place, one minute off of Mario Roman’s time. Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content Pool

The pace Roman and Walkner were setting was high, however Roman just had a little extra in the closing stages to pull some time back on Walkner to claim third. In the overall standings it proved good teamwork for the duo, with Roman claiming some time on Kabakchiev in second, while Walkner overtook FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart to move into fourth.

Trystan Hart had trouble with the grassy sections that hid rocks in the morning. Trystan finished sixth for the day and is fifth overall in the rally. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool

Results: Round 5 – Red Bull Romaniacs

Off-road Day 3

1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 5:28:02; 2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 5:29:55; 3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 5:32:27; 4. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 5:33:27; 5. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 5:34:35; 6. Trystan Hart (KTM) 5:45:53; 7. Matthew Green (KTM) 6:19:42; 8. Suff Sella (KTM) 6:22:31; 9. David Cyprian (KTM) 6:26:04; 10. Dominik Olszowy (GASGAS) 6:35:06

Provisional Classification (After Offroad Day 3)

1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 16:34:25; 2. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 16:50:09; 3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 16:56:10; 4. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 17:02:37; 5. Trystan Hart (KTM) 17:14:13…