Chassis Focus – Edward Sio

Chassis – Mugen MBX-7TR
Engine – Novarossi Drake Special Edition
Tyres – AKA Impact
Fuel – Flashpoint Fuel 30%
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M12s / Sanwa SRG-BZX
Body – Mugen kit
Remarks – Being one of the long time regulars at Circulo Verde Offroad Track, Mugen’s Edward Sio is always a fan favorite and this year has stepped up his efforts in organizing the Philippine Masters 2017. With 2017 being his 8th year in attendance, Sio wanted to make this year’s PM a success and his extremely happy with the way things have gone with many professional drivers making the trip over to highlight the event making it the biggest race in the history of the Philippines.

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Chassis Focus – Adam Drake

Chassis – Mugen MBX-7R
Engine – OS Speed B2101
Tyres – Pro-Line X2 Fugitives
Fuel – Flashpoint Fuel 30%
Radio/Servos – Hitec Lynx 4S / Hitec HSB-9370TH
Body – Pro-Line Predator
Remarks – Making his 3rd appearance to the Philippine Masters, Mugen’s Adam Drake is one of the original professional drivers to race the PM. Drake’s MBX-7R has a few minor modifications like the Flashpoint brass pistons and newly designed engine mount. Also following the trend of upping shock oils and diff oils, Drake commented that his car isn’t much different from what he normally runs and has mostly been testing tires, running a different set every run on his buggy.

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Chassis Focus – Richard Saxton

Chassis – Team Associated RC8B3.1
Engine – OS Speed B2101
Tyres – Pro-Line Blockade X2 compound
Fuel – VP Racing Fuel 25%
Radio/Servos – Futaba 4PX / Reedy RT2207A
Body – AE kit body
Remarks – ‘The King’, Richard Saxton has made the journey from California to participate in this year’s Philippine Masters and who is enjoying his first ever trip to the Philippines commented that ‘the people are really nice, the track is fun, and I’m having a really great time here.’ Saxton’s Team Associated RC8B3.1 is kit stock besides the Fast Race shock caps, which utilizes a different bladder and have no volume behind the bladder and was seen on Spencer Rivkin’s buggy at the Neo. Also, Saxton is using a +5mm rear shock standoff to fine tune the rear end of the buggy, however Saxton also remarked that he was going to try Kyle McBride’s emulsion shock package in round 4 of qualifying to see which was better.

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Chassis Focus – Ty Tessmann

Chassis – Xray XB8 ’17
Engine – OS Speed B2102
Tyres – Pro-Line Electro Shot silver compound
Fuel – VP Racing Fuel 25%
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M12s / MKS HBL599
Body – Xray
Remarks – Making his first trip to the Philippines, Xray’s Ty Tessmann’s late arrival has put the former World Champion on the back foot, but he is starting to show great form and rival the pace. Having to go up in diff and shock oil, this hotter climate and high grip surface is all new to Tessman and his XB8 ’17. The only modifications to his XB8 ’17 are the addition of Lunsford titanium screws throughout.

Chassis Focus – Kyle McBride

Chassis – Team Associated RC8B3.1
Engine – Novarossi Mito 4
Tyres – Pro-Line Blockade X2 compound
Fuel – VP Racing Fuel 30%
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M12s / Reedy RT2207A
Body – Pro-Line Prototype
Remarks – The 2015 Philippine Masters Champion, Team Associated’s Kyle McBride makes his return to Manila after missing last year’s event and shows up with the newest rendition of the RC8 in basic stock form. Kyle has gone with harder compound tires which better suit the hotter weather along with a drop in ride height from his normal because of the higher grip than what he’s accustomed to.

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Chassis Focus – Atsushi Hara

Chassis – HB Racing D8TE
Engine – OS Speed 21XZ-B Spec II
Tyres – Pro-Line Blockade X3 Compound
Fuel – Tornado 25%
Radio/Servos – Futaba 4PX / Futaba S9373SV
Body – Pro-Line Enforcer
Remarks – The ever popular, and fan favourite, Atsushi Hara has decided to make a return home to long-time chassis sponsor, HB Racing, and choosing to run both the HB racing 1/8th buggy and truggy as a chassis privateer for this event. Remarking that his D8TE ‘Tessman Edition’ has worked well that ‘it’s been a while for truggy’, the only added modification over the stock kit comes in the form of Avid carbon fibre arm inserts for the extreme heat here in the Philippines.

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