2014 International Edition - July 2014 MALAYSIA RUN 350 Outstanding podium finish for Team FX Primus Aylezo GREAT BRITAIN A victory and two podiums for PBM at Knockhill Shane Byrne and the PBM team's pursuit of the 2014 British Superbike Championship showed no signs of abating at Knockhill. After reaching the second place in the opening race, the former triple MCE BSB champion could extend his title lead even further by winning the second race. Byrne has upped his tally to a record 57 MCE BSB wins and has also opened up a gap of 22 points in the important podium credits score. This will become vital when the end of season showdown takes place where the winner of the series is declared. His team-mate, Stuart Easton also had reason to celebrate as the Hawick rider delighted the local fans by taking his first podium of the year at his home circuit for the Penrith-based team. "A good weekend with strong performances from both Shakey and Stuart and to come away with a win and two podiums is a fantastic result, said team owner Paul Bird, enthusiastically. FUCHS lubricants: Silkolene PRO 4 PLUS SAE 5W-40, Silkolene PRO R SAE 0W-20, Silkolene CHAIN CLEANER, Silkolene WASH OFF, Silkolene TITANIUM CHAIN GEL After a late delivery of containers, crews worked throughout the night to get the car ready for testing. We didn t have much time to set up, fortunately the track was not too technical compared to Sepang. During the first race a penalty was imposed on the team, which relegated car #69 down the grid to tenth. However, Zen Low and Dominic Ang fought hard through the grid to finish third. Team FX Primus Aylezo surpassed expectations and won their second podium in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia. Nothing is sweeter than starting down near the back of the grid to finish on the podium. The team will travel to Fuji International Speedway in Japan for the third race of the season in August. GREAT BRITAIN Brittany Cuthbert: a large potential After her success of last year- winning the FIM Africa Championship, the South African rider, Brittany Cuthbert will race this season in the Red Bull Pro National series in Great Britain. My ultimate goal is to race the WIM GP Series but before I jump into the deep end, a year in England is the ideal thing for me right now, to get used to big races with full classes, on different rough tracks. At the end of the first race, Brittany has had some solid top ten overall placing in the past few events. "My goal is to continue to improve and learn as much as I can during my time in the UK. Brittany trains hard and will definitely be a formidable force in the future.
GERMANY Team Black Falcon at the 24-Hour race of Nürburgring: podium for the second consecutive year Team Black Falcon s title-defending #1 Mercedes successfully crossed the finish line in second place overall during the 42 nd edition of the prestigious ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race, despite all obstacles faced at the arduous event. The weekend got off to a promising start, with the #14 Black Falcon-entered Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 clocking the fourth fastest lap - 8 minutes 14.290 seconds - in top 30 qualifying shootout, while the other car (#1) achieved seventh place on the starting grid after lapping the Nordschleife in 8 minutes 15.098 seconds. However, with qualifying times in endurance racing meaning very little, the two cars were still eyeing the second successive victory at this legendary racetrack. Saturday s race start saw the #14 Mercedes, shared between Yelmer Buurman, Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal, Hubert Haupt and Adam Christodoulou, jump from fourth to third place overall, which later became first place overall just one hour into the race, while the #1 car played it safe and maintained its position. Both cars remained in contention for victory, lingering in the top five for the majority of the first half of the race. "However, disaster struck on the eleventh hour when the rear suspension on our #14 Mercedes broke after an Aston Martin had hit the rear of our car. Despite repair attempts by our mechanics, the #14 Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3 was forced into retirement with nine hours to go, leaving only the #1 Mercedes to defend our team s colours", explains one of the pilots. As the #14 green and black Mercedes officially retired, the #1 red car took the race lead and rekindled the team s hopes of winning the 24-Hour Race for the second year in a row. Team Black Falcon s troubles were far from over, though, as chances of a victory took another hit when the leading #1 car was given a penalty after failing to abide by the minimum pit stop time rule. Drivers Lance David Arnold, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Andreas Simonsen and Christian Menzel refused to give up and kept the #1 car in the top three during the closing stages of the race. With four hours to go, the team moved to second place overall, but was never able to mount a challenge against the leading factory-backed Phoenix Racing Audi that was too far ahead and eventually settled for the runner-up spot, just three minutes off the top spot, which on a tremendous track like the Nürburgring Nordschleife, is considered a minimal gap. Team Black Falcon overcame an incident-filled race that was contested by more than 150 cars, on arguably the most dangerous track in the world, to finish on the podium; the best result the team could have hoped for given all the unexpected drama. The team used the new 0W-20 XTL" FUCHS Engine Oil.
THE NETHERLANDS A formidable success for the Oldebroek Team On Saturday, the 5 th of July, CRT Holland organized the annual endurance race, the 501 of Assen. This competition took place at the beautiful Dutch TT racetrack during 111 laps (501 km). Team Oldebroek, consisting of Arjan van Hooren, Niels Fijn and Dutch Supersport 2013 champion Kervin Bos*, was one of the 48 teams on the grid. After a dry free practice and qualifying session Team Oldebroek started the race in pole position. Right before the race it started to rain heavily, so all the bikes were forced to swiftly change to rain tyres. The start was in the well-known Le-Mans style. Kervin Bos was the first rider and he had a fantastic start. The plan was to change drivers every 18 laps. This was more or less the case. Team Oldebroek successfully managed a race including everything you can expect from an endurance race such as heavy rain, pit stops, unplanned tyre changes and technical setbacks. But they never lost control over the first place. After an exhausting race Team Oldebroek passed the chequered flag in first place. A great achievement for the whole team and the FUCHS Silkolene brand, says Tim Rademakers, Automotive Sales, Netherlands (FUCHS LUBRICANTS BENELUX), enthusiastically. Arjan van Hooren and Niels Fijn ride a TenKate Honda CBR 1000RR with Silkolene PRO 4 PLUS SAE 5W-40, Silkolene PRO CHAIN and some SILKOLENE maintenance products. *Kervin Bos is a guest driver not using FUCHS products. POLAND Impressive! The Drag Racing Team - first Polish Unimoto Team - cooperates with FUCHS OIL CORPORATION. (PL). In the 2014 season, the team took part in competitions in Poland and Germany and secured 11th place in the International Championships of Germany. The vehicles used in the races are similar to motorbikes. Each competitor has to race over the 30.49 m long track as fast as possible. The surface of the race track may be rough terrain only a field or meadow, for instance. The engine of this vehicle must be at least five years old and it has to be an engine from mass production. It is not allowed to modify the engine. The FUCHS Silkolene products which are used in Unimoto vehicles have a good quality. It is the best choice for motorbikes, explains the rider. Still little known in Europe, the discipline that came from the United States is very spectacular and attracts a wide public, explains Artur Całka, Marketing Specialist of FUCHS OIL CORPORATION. (PL). FUCHS lubricants: Silkolene COMP 4 SAE 10W-40, Silkolene PRO CHAIN, Silkolene PRO RG2
FRANCE Erwan Quellet sets his sights on the title Competing in the Promosport 600cc category, Erwan Quellet recently secured his first podium finish in the fourth round of the season in Croix-en-Ternois, France. After a few years out of the sport due to a lack of funds, he returned to racing in 2013, sponsored by FUCHS Silkolene and one of the brand's dealers Moto Shop 35. Halfway through the season, he is currently positioned fifth out of around 40 competitors in the French Championship, just 20 points behind the leader. "I'm full of confidence going into the next four rounds. I've had great races at Le Mans and Magny-Cours in the past and I know the tracks at Alès and Ledenon well. I have the ability to get on the podium in the next few FRANCE races. Of course I've got my eyes on the 2014 title." Aged 25, Erwan opted for the high-level Promosport 600cc Championship because it is more financially accessible. "We're not allowed to do anything to the engine, other than everyday maintenance, so it's really important to have good lubricants. Since I started using FUCHS Silkolene PRO R SAE 0W-20, the engine temperature has increased by 5 C, which has given me much better performance. My chains are supplied by AFAM, the transmission specialists. They are usually quite cautious about recommending products, but based on their samples and analyses, they were more than happy to recommend Silkolene TITA- NIUM CHAIN GEL." Bursting with potential and commitment, this family team of five looks set to provide plenty of excitement for the crowds as they seek to oust the competition. Bike: KAWASAKI Zx-6r 2014-600cc FUCHS lubricants: Silkolene PRO R SAE 0W-20, Silkolene PRO PREP, Silkolene TITANIUM CHAIN GEL, Silkolene PRO WASH, MAINTAIN DOT 5.1 HDRacing: like father, like son This family team has a great story, with both dad Hervé Desrichard (open and 600cc categories) and seven-year-old son Maël (youth category) competing in the Championnat de France de la Montagne- the French Hillclimbing Championship. Hervé has been a big motorsport fan since the age of 17. Now aged 50, he is competing in the nine championship races (two of which are classified at European level) on a Honda RS 250 (ex GP) and a Yamaha 600 R6. "I like the challenge, but above all I like the camaraderie between the teams and the genuine respect between riders." On the 1.5 2 km tracks high up in the mountains, the riders have to be ready for anything. "Experience is key because you have to adapt to the terrain. There are very fine margins when it comes to tuning the engine (carburettor) and setting up the bike." Hervé made his name in 2010 and 2011 when he won the championship title in the Post-Classic and Evolution categories. He has been using FUCHS Silkolene products since 2010. "These products keep the engine really clean and meet our exact requirements. There is a wide range on offer, including specific products for each application and they guarantee exceptional performance." No wonder this father and son team has its sight firmly set on the podium! FUCHS lubricants: Silkolene PRO 2 SX, Silkolene PRO 4 SAE 15W-50, MAINTAIN DOT 5.1, Silkolene COMP GEAR OIL SAE 80W-90
CZECH REPUBLIC USA Success for Dustin Dominguez at Barber Motorsports Park HSBK Racing (division of Houston Superbikes Inc.) had an impressive weekend - June 21 and 22 - at the AMA Pro Racing Superbike Classic held at Barber Motorsports Park. Dustin Dominguez rode the HSBK-prepped, Silkolene sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6 to the podium in both races. This is Dustin s first year on a Yamaha and he has continued to learn the nuances of the bike and improved his performance with every race so far this season. The new two day abbreviated race format put more pressure on the team for every run on the track to go smoothly. Saturday the tight schedule held qualifying 1 and 2 as well as race 1. Qualifying 1 was used to build a good motorcycle for Dustin and in qualifying 2, he was able to put the bike on the pole with the fastest lap time of the two qualifying sessions. Before race 1, a bike dropped a large amount of oil on the track during the last laps of the Superbike race. The native of Muskogee (Oklahoma) opted to go slower out of the gate to test if the track was still slick. He also struggled with rear wheel grip, but his strong riding enabled him to finish with a solid second. For race 2, the team made a few changes to improve rear wheel grip. These modifications proved helpful with Dominguez grabbing the hole shot and leading almost the entire 15 lap race. The valuable points from the first and second place finishes moved Dominguez up to third in the championship points standings just 13 points behind the top two riders who are tied in points. "The team busted their butts giving me a bike that could win", explained the 24-year-old pilot. "I thank all our great sponsors and especially FUCHS Silkolene for supplying us with products that continue to perform beyond the normal limits which were needed on these hot summer days that test both rider and the bike." HSBK Racing is grateful to have the benefits of using such great FUCHS Silkolene products as Silkolene PRO 4 SAE 10W-40, Silkolene PRO CHAIN, Silkolene CONTACT CLEANER and Silkolene PRO RG2. FUCHS on the first line of National Autocross Championship The Czech Autocross Championship took place in Štikov valley in East Bohemia. It has been a very long tradition since 1971 and the series was a part of FIA European Autocross Championship. FUCHS OIL CORP. (CZ) SPOL. S.R.O, main sponsor of this major event, welcomed important customers in their VIP area. More than 10,000 spectators acclaimed the 107 drivers participating in four divisions: Junior Buggy (up to 600 cc), Touring Autocross (modified touring cars), Buggy 1600 (up to 1600 cc) and the Super Buggy (up to 4000 cc). The top category Super Buggy was won by four-time European champion Bernd Stubbe from Germany, followed by his Czech rival Vladislav Štětina (Nissan 3500). But the most thrilling race for local spectators was Touring Autocross, as they saw the excellent performance of local hero Václav Fejfar a start-finish victory. He didn t give Tamás Kárai from Hungary a chance, who now leads the championship. It is a very attractive and spectacular event for all FUCHS VIPs and a good visibility of the FUCHS brand all over track and the whole area.
ITALY Lepanto Rally: sport and solidarity The rally took place from 5 to 11 May, in which about 200 international motorbike riders, twenty crews in cars and a dozen on quad riders participated. Some notable world champions in various categories, a couple of Dakariani and many national champions were among the participants. The team Energy & Smiles Onlus sponsored by FUCHS Silkolene, flanked by the Kapriony Go & Fun and Pro Al teams, achieved excellent results. Massimo ITALY Storti who won first place in the overall standings in the M3 category, motorcycles over 600cc, should be mentioned in particular. In the meantime volunteers cooperating with the team collected donations which they gave to schools, hospitals and orphanages. All this is possible thanks to the commitment of our volunteers and because we present ourselves as a support team. This allows us to raise the funds we need for delivering the donated materials. Other financial support comes from friends and promotion activities. All our volunteers pay their travel expenses themselves and so do the riders regarding the costs related to the races and assistance, because we believe that this is the true volunteering. All the efforts required for collecting and preparing the material are abundantly rewarded by the smiles we get when we deliver the aid. Sprinthouse: competition for all As mentioned in FUCHS MS (June 2014), FUCHS has been one of Sprinthouse s major sponsors for three years in different formulas: Miniopen, Motodiserie and Motoestate. We choose these events for their high level of performance, their accessibility for drivers and the great interest of the spectators, said Cristina Delmastro from FUCHS LUBRIFICANTI S.P.A. We sponsor all the riders of all these trophies. They all have our stickers on their bikes and get a welcome kit including lubricants and some gadgets. We thought it was a good way of getting closer to end users and raise brand awareness among motorbike enthusiasts. The Miniopen was created with the aim of bringing the younger pilots on the track (starting at the age of 14). They are riding less-expensive motorbikes which in turn may bring them closer to the racing world at an affordable price. In this category the purchase price of a motorbike and maintenance costs are low. Elena Barolo is one of FUCHS s riders in this formula. Motodiserie is an entry level championship where the riders do not necessarily have to invest big budgets. The goal is just to have fun and have the chance to realize the dream of competitive racing, a competitor explained. No mechanical, no electronic modifications, only modifications to the chassis and the use of an exhaust gas device. Rodolfo Gaggiolo will defend the FUCHS colours in the category Naked. Motoestate is reserved for more experienced riders who want to feel the adrenaline rush through their veins. The riders and the mechanics have absolute freedom in preparing the bikes and may use all the skills and expertise of the team.
SLOVENIA 29th FUCHS Rally Velenje: a captivating sporting event After two rounds of the Slovenian Rally Championship, the third station of the season called 29th FUCHS Rally Velenje run near Velenje - the city of miners - proved to be a big success. 66 crews from nine countries participated in the short but very tricky rally consisting of eight special stages on two different roads (75 km of special stages) and with the very popular Super Special Stage. Despite problems with power steering the winner Manuel Koessler from Germany managed to beat his compatriot Hermann Gassner senior (Mitsubishi Evo X), who came in second place. The best Slovenian Aleks Humar (Renault Clio R3) came in fourth, immediately behind Juraj Šebalj from Croatia (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X). The 29th FUCHS Rally Velenje counts for the Croatian Rally Championship and the Mitropa Rally Cup. The FUCHS banners were strategically placed along the track and the FUCHS logo was displayed on the podium and on the 66 race cars. It is a major event for the FUCHS brand featuring the good relationship with the automotive professionals, teams and spectators but also a good opportunity for promoting the products. That was an unforgettable event for FUCHS, explains Martina Fink-Dimec, Business Development Manager from FUCHS Maziva LSL D.O.O.