HB 😃

He has just announced Muchmore for power and X-gear.
X-gear make springs for Kyosho and Yokomo.
More to come i think.

with Tamiya...

Has this been confirmed? That would be a surprise to me for sure, and the thought made me smile. I'd love to see Tamiya continue their off-road programme, and I would not mind Tamiya winning a worlds title due to Naoto's driving and knowledge of the track. Of course, I would have preferred him to stay with Yokomo... ;)

Tamiya fielding a car in the worlds is pointless, if a potential customer can't buy it anywhere, or have any parts support.



From Naoto's facebook status this morning:

◇ご報告◇
2015年以降使用するパワーソースとして、マッチモアレーシング㈱様と
その他のエクイップメントとして㈱エックスギア様とのドライバー契約を
締結しました。

Translated:

◇Report◇
As a power source to be used in 2015 or later, and the Muchmore
Racing JP Co.,LTD.
Other Equipment driver contract with the Corporation X-Gear Co.,LTD
Has signed.
Naoto Matsukura

That's perhaps the thing...Tamiya do not need specially to invest so much on R/C competition...they sold so much tons of models ( Aircrafts, Legendary cars, Figurines...etc at small scales) around the World.

I've got two friends, each one got his own shop in France...one of them buy to the Tamiya distributor quasi 10000€ ( one or two time per year ) of this kinds of models...even if they do not sold all during the current year...some models win in value ( Higher Price ) because of rarity and are sold at the end...

For sure, R/C competition models are more difficult to have...it's not the main business for Tamiya...If they've a good driver, it's great but if they do not have... it doesn't matter.
Why do they need a good driver like Marc Rheinard in TC...just to be present on competition.

That's perhaps the thing...Tamiya do not need specially to invest so much on R/C competition...they sold so much tons of models ( Aircrafts, Legendary cars, Figurines...etc at small scales) around the World.

I've got two friends, each one got his own shop in France...one of them buy to the Tamiya distributor quasi 10000€ ( one or two time per year ) of this kinds of models...even if they do not sold all during the current year...some models win in value ( Higher Price ) because of rarity and are sold at the end...

For sure, R/C competition models are more difficult to have...it's not the main business for Tamiya...If they've a good driver, it's great but if they do not have... it doesn't matter.
Why do they need a good driver like Marc Rheinard in TC...just to be present on competition.

We'll see YZ-2 coming my way.

Stupid cheat cars! :woot:

It's looking very doubtful that he's going to Kyosho unless he's got an agreement where he doesn't have to run Orion electrics. In which case it'll be Tamiya and god only knows why unless it's down to money.

I still say Hot Bodies/HPI.

Elliot boots doesn't use orion elecs, Kev Lee ran tekin motor and ESC when he used kyosho, so not a total rule out.

My bet is on HB/HPI as wel.

Ben's move to Schumacher has been confirmed. Anything new on Naoto except for his "new" hair colour?
http://jpn.muchmoreracing.net/tc/att...9674245497.jpg

LOL

That would be the Sweetest Headline wouldn't it!

"Matsukura Wins worlds with Tamiya Grasshopper....."




MOmo

:D:thumbsup::p

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/cms/plug...b08aa80cf3.jpg

Boom. He's racing the grasshopper. I called it.

You can't go wrong with a Grasshopper: Mid-motor, narrow chassis, inline battery... I only chose the Hopper as my first car due to those design features, not because I was on a budget as a kid! :woot:

thats only for touring cars though and does not cover 1/10th off road

And that sproingy suspension set up. My old grasshopper used to give my pogo stick a run for it's money. Not to mention the one piece chassis and front suspension arms - should come with a free tube of araldite and a small piece of meccano to enable fixes when they snap...
It developed an innate sense of ingenuity to try to fix all the multiple ways it could break, but hey, if he can get it to work for him then good luck:thumbsup:

Hence your signature... :D
It says nothing about a TC-only deal in Tamiya's press statement:

http://www.tamiya.com/english/info/1...kura/index.htm

Even though parts support for TRF off-road cars has been mediocre at best, I do hope they commence with their off-road programme.
(Maybe their next 2WD will be a copycat Yokomo instead of AE or Kyosho... :p)

It mentions it here http://www.redrc.net/2015/01/naoto-m...acing-factory/

And the Tamya site states "Naoto will be joining other team members as they venture across the globe to challenge prestigious Touring Car racing events" no mention of off road or 1/12th