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Matsukura leaves Yokomo

Matsukura leaves Yokomo

Old 12-19-2014, 04:10 AM
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Default Matsukura leaves Yokomo

Well here is a bit of a shocker...

http://www.redrc.net/2014/12/naoto-m...omo-part-ways/
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Old 12-19-2014, 04:13 AM
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Old 12-19-2014, 04:47 AM
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So the realistic factory options are:

Tamiya
Kyosho ???

Maybe Hot Bodies are getting serious again.

Associated

X-Ray - not terribly likely, I think.

Or will he mix and match sponsors/drives...

My bet is .... Tamiya alongside MR. They seem to be fairly chummy.

Last edited by Callisto; 12-19-2014 at 04:57 AM.
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Old 12-19-2014, 04:49 AM
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Maybe he is tired of processional racing and he will join Team Durango and just be sponsored as club racer
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Old 12-19-2014, 05:13 AM
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Matsukura racing, touring cars?
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Old 12-19-2014, 05:31 AM
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Surely needs to be somewhere with 1/12, TC and 1/10 off-road?

TRF would be unlikely I think.

Maybe one of the new brands like VBC?
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Old 12-19-2014, 05:33 AM
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Maybe he has secretly always wanted to break away from his mentor's electric only success and go nitro racing. Mugen baby
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Old 12-19-2014, 05:44 AM
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Well Yokomo still has a lot of strong talent in the 1/12 department. There are a handful of young up and coming drivers who are on pace wit Naoto. In a couple years time you'll see a few of them on the 1/12th worlds podium,

I think Naoto will stay with a Japanese manufacture (language barrier). Either HPI, Mugen, Kyosho. I think Kyosho will take him on, their 1/12th department is lacking and they have all classes for him to race.
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Old 12-19-2014, 05:47 AM
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I think too that HPI would be a good choice.
They could also release a new old Cyclone X12 and he will be all-set !
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Old 12-19-2014, 06:10 AM
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He did mention to me about starting up his own business... Maybe that's what's in store.. Who knows... But I sure do love to speculate.

In his written Japanese statement. He mentioned his 10 year contract finished...and now he'll will be a driver for a new company.
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Old 12-19-2014, 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Callisto
So the realistic factory options are:

Tamiya
Kyosho ???

Maybe Hot Bodies are getting serious again.

Associated

X-Ray - not terribly likely, I think.

Or will he mix and match sponsors/drives...

My bet is .... Tamiya alongside MR. They seem to be fairly chummy.

I doubt Associated is going to shell out the cash to get him. I think HPI/Hotbodies would be a good look since the have Moore, Wang and Sudhoff.

How about Schumacher they just Elliot Harper.
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Old 12-19-2014, 07:24 AM
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Sad news.... I have feeling he will join Tamiya. Maybe one of the reasons he left is because Yokomo #1 driver is Volker
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Old 12-19-2014, 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by cyba888
Sad news.... I have feeling he will join Tamiya. Maybe one of the reasons he left is because Yokomo #1 driver is Volker
That could be a possibility. Atsushi Hara left Yokomo after winning the worlds and look how much success he has had. At the time Masami was there #1 and that wasn't going to change. The situation seems similar.
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Old 12-19-2014, 07:31 AM
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Maybe Naoto and Jorn are starting a company together. Wouldn't that be something.
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Old 12-19-2014, 07:36 AM
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Originally Posted by cyba888
Sad news.... I have feeling he will join Tamiya. Maybe one of the reasons he left is because Yokomo #1 driver is Volker
That would be awesome being a TRF fan and all.
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