Chris Birch returns to Sibiu for his 5th Romaniacs competition, this year he is the number one ranked rider in the field after winning the 2010 race. Motorbikes are in Chris's blood, his father is a keen rider, his mum rides and his wife just got her first bike in South Africa where they have been based for the majority of this year. Chris's last ride in South Africa was the Umzumbe Extreme last weekend, the terrain there provided a perfect shake down for Romaniacs
"Living in South africa has been really good training for Romaniacs, like Romania it is very free, literally no restrictions on where you can ride a motorbike. There is just unbelievable riding for miles in every direction from our house. It's a great resource to train for Romania"
With the prolog race just one night away, complete focus is now on Romaniacs. Following the Enduro Cross track of the Prolog is 4 days of gruelling riding across every type of terrain imaginable with distances ranging up to 220km per day.
"Most of the really nasty stuff in Romania is in the forest of the Carpathian mountains, it gets difficult because the ground stays very wet, the sun doesn't get on it very much and it doesn't dry out. Unlike the Roof of Africa race almost everything is slippery, you get massive build ups of leaves that clogs your tyres and makes it hard to keep going. These are proper big mountains with lots of steep climbs and descents with big altitude changes. The weather can change very quickly and easily catch you out"
Having accomplished two 3rds and a 2nd previously before last years win, Chris Birch is no stranger to Romaniacs, in fact it's his favorite race of the year and one which he holds special in his heart. It was Romaniacs that helped launched his pro career which sees him now starting in the number one plate in 2011.
"It's a bit different this year having the numbver one plate on the bike, I am not sure whether I feel more pressure, because there is so many good guys here, it's just so up for grabs there is so much that can go wrong in this race. It's very difficult to pick favourites, even though I have the number one on the bike I don't feel like I am the out and out favourite, so I don't feel like there is any nore pressure on me than the rest of the guys. To finish first, first you have to finish"
Finish is something Chris is entirely focused do to, and there is every chance it will be in first place.
Tune in right here over the following week for updates and new video from the Road to Roamania series of webclips
Check the video Road to Romania Episode 1 and Road to Romania Episode 2
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