Quagraine's silly season rumor analysis - Maifield to Mugen Seiki? Tessmann to XRAY?

0 Dec. 1, 2016, 9:12 a.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

From JQ Racing:
stories.jqracing.com

Ok, been thinking about this post for a while now, been a bit hesitant to post. Had some info which was hush hush, had a lot of questionable info, but now, after weeks, I have heard things from so many places, and so openly, that it’s time to do a pre-silly season analysis. Soon you can all laugh at how stupid I am, or kneel at my feet.

Disclaimer: The following information is mostly my opinion, and not fact. I don’t know this to be true, but I have my suspicions, and theories. I realise that after this post, I may never hear anything interesting again, and a few people may get butt hurt, but let’s face it, we need to make RC more interesting. I’m a huge fan of motocross and supercross, and I listen to a podcast called Pulpmx Show. Actually that podcast was the reason for the most friction back when I had a girlfriend. “JQ, are you listening to that bloody motocross shit again? I’m going to smash your phone!” Anyway, on there they always speculate and discuss rumours, and I love to listen to that shit and bench race. Nothing like that exists in RC. Why not? Anyway, here goes:

Ryan Maifield – Leaves TLR – Joins Mugen – Never lets go of throttle.

WTF, yes, that’s my thoughts too. I mean what the hell is going on. Then I sit back and look at the facts. Exhibit A: Maifield joined TLR at least in part thanks to Adam Drake. Drake then got canned by TLR before Maifield even got to race with TLR, and he went to Mugen. Exhibit B: Drivers have been leaving Mugen, Ongaro, Martin, Baldo’s, could it be because Mugen was making room for Maifield. Could Maifield finally get his bromance going with Drake at Mugen. It’s looking that way. If it does happen, it’s bad news. He will be going from what I thought to be the worst car for him (TLR) to the best (Mugen). He can drive punched out of his mind with that thing, just as long as he can find the steering. If this deal really is happening then expect Mugen to finally start winning big in America.

Davide Ongaro – Leaves Mugen – Joins AE – So nothing really changes.

Davide Ongaro – Leaves Mugen – Joins AE – Already has a dialed setup.

Davide Ongaro – Leaves Mugen – Joins AE – Already has all the spare parts.

Davide Ongaro – Leaves Mugen – Joins AE – Basically in order to make the car match his blue cooling head.

Sorry, I coudn’t resist. Anyway, this one is pretty solid, I mean the boy was already photographed wearing an AE hoodie. Makes complete sense if you ask me. LRP who support Ongaro for engines have been all over the Ongaro race program, and as LRP distribute AE in Europe, it seems like a natural move. Also, if Maifield really is going to Mugen, I expect him to be taking the majority of the budget, so a new young star may have been left out. Well, thankfully Ongaro should have an unusually easy time adapting to his new car. Basically I’m thinking he may have a better setup for it than the AE guys.

Cody King – Leaves Kyosho – Joins JQRacing – Paul King Stays with Kyosho.

Ok I might be getting a bit too excited here. But for reals, Cody has signed with Kyosho and is staying there it seems. There was a time when it looked like he might be out, but he seems to have managed to stay put.

Jerome Aigoin – Leaves Kyosho – Linked to Mugen- Americans are now asking “Who is Jerome Aigoin?”

With everyone leaving Mugen, I have heard a rumour from France that Jerome Aigoin may be going there. Nothing to back this up, but I did hear it, so I’m sharing it.

Jared Tebo – Staying with Kyosho – Yawn.

I heard some interesting stuff about Tebo being in talks with Infinity, a la Lee Martin, but I thought it was strange as Tebo is under contract still for at least another year, and also because he already did the new car thing for O’Donnell. Anyway, heard it from a few different people, usually where there is smoke where there is fire. Could be interesting when it is contract time.

Joseph Quagraine – Fires himself – Buys his spot back on THE Team.

Due to lack of performance the management at JQRacing decided to once again fire JQ as a driver. However, promising showings in the off season races in America paved the way for a last minute buy in, and another last chance for JQ to show the world that he doesn’t suck quite as much as most believe.

Ty Tessmann – Leaves HB – Joins Xray? – If it is God’s will.

This is the sketchiest one I am posting. I’m basically posting it because if it comes true I will get mega credit. If it doesn’t, I will just look stupid, like normal. If someone put a gun to my head, I would still say Tessmann isn’t going anywhere, I mean doesn’t his dad actually work for HB? A driver and an actual job, that takes some moving. But anyway, why not bench race a bit, so here goes. David Ronnefalk is now the new Nr 1. Tessmann have been nr 1 for ages at HB, what they want ,they get. Things are different now, HB is now owned by Orion. Orion is European, and Ronnefalk is Bertin’s boy. He also runs an Orion Engine. Will Tessmann get the same treatment as before? Of course not. Still great I’m sure just no white gloves. Then there is the engine issue, I am sure Orion want the top HB drivers to run Orion, and Ty doesn’t. So I can see where there is friction, Tessmann camp maybe not feeling quite as at home as before, and the new HB owners not fully happy with the Tessmann setup. I can see why a split could happen. Xray, makes sense, they don’t have anyone, I believe Wheeler is pretty much done racing RC. Xray could afford someone like Tessmann, and maybe they could have Gord take up distribution. Does RC America even exist? I mean I like this rumour, it’s crazy but it does make sense.