FUCHS is an official sponsor of the new National Naked Bikes Championship
Mission accomplished! Naked bikes will have their own National Championship and the season starts next weekend, on 27 and 28 April, in Estoril. Thanks to the success of the Naked Bikes Trophies, the Portuguese Motorcycling Federation (FPM) decided to debut the naked bikes category in the National Championship. For eight years, businessman Paulo Vicente has promoted and organised the Naked Bikes Trophies - the Aprilia Tuonocup, the BMW S1000R Cup, the Triumph Triple Cup and the Kawasaki Zcup - since 2020 with FUCHS as the official sponsor. ‘I started this activity in 2016 to show that this type of motorbike also has its place in competition. In the last two years it's even been the most participated category,’ explains the mechanical engineer and emphasises: ’The Federation can take the project even further, which is fantastic. As far as the première is concerned, the recipe is set. The big change is the name: the trophies become championships and the winners become champions and are invited to the final gala.’
The National Naked Bikes Championship is contested in two categories: CNB1 for naked bikes with more than 140bhp and CNB2 for those with less power. For the rest, the FPM is sticking to its successful formula and is making two exceptions: It keeps one of the seven races in Spain, while the other championships don't leave Portugal, and it preserves the continuation of FUCHS as the exclusive lubrication partner, despite having another institutional sponsor. ‘Continuing with FUCHS makes perfect sense. The drivers really like Silkolene products, which are of great quality and have never caused any problems,’ says Paulo Vicente, who is also taking part in the championship with his BMW M1000R. He adds: ’Silkolene products allow us to start the season right away, because we go with new brake oil and suspension oil, fluids that need to be replaced regularly. Throughout the season, each rider receives three changes of PRO4 engine oil. We also use different Silkolene sprays to lubricate the chain, clean the brakes, etc. All this lubrication is very important to ensure performance and safety on the track.’
In the races, the Aprilia, BMW and Triumph bikes reach speeds of almost 300 km/h and the asphalt temperatures can exceed 60 ºC. ‘These are ideal conditions for us to stand out,’ says André Castro Pinheiro, automotive director for FUCHS in Portugal, explaining: ‘We're very pleased with the continuation of the partnership, as the bikes taking part are road bikes, which gives us the opportunity to show that Silkolene oils make a difference, that they are oils for all true motorbike enthusiasts, those who want to enhance and protect their machines with high-tech lubrication.’
With the trophies going up to the National Championship organised by the FPM, the workshop brand can expect even greater visibility in 2024.
