Sport
20 August, 2026
Teen No. 1 in tough global off-road race
A MOSSMAN teenager has stunned an international off-road motorcycle endurance race event by beating some of the best riders in the world.
Sandon Kerswell, 18, recorded the fastest time on all four off-road days to win the silver category at Red Bull Romaniacs, completing the gruelling event across Romania in 19 hours and 12 seconds, nearly 90 minutes ahead of the second-placed competitor.
It was a first for the apprentice diesel fitter, with no major backers.
Kerswell spent two months training in Romania on his new KTM 300 and won the expert category of Ditrocks in July, a major lead-up hard enduro event in Romania.
At Romaniacs he qualified third in the prologue out of more than 100 riders in the category and on the first day of the off-road event he finished more than 20 minutes ahead of second.
He plans to go professional but in the meantime will compete in events in Australia before returning to Romania next year to defend his title.
Congratulations have been coming in thick and fast for the former Miallo State School student.
“Congratulations Sandon Kerswell (for) first place Red Bull Romaniacs – a world champion. We are so proud of you Sando. Miallo students and parents rocking it on the world stage,” said the school on Facebook.
A The Cape York Barra-Munted Classic post said: “Not only is this young Mossman lad taking it to the world, but he’s literally smashing it on the world stage. Redbull Romaniacs is literally the world’s toughest enduro race. Not only did he compete, he flogged the absolute s**t out of everyone”.
