Team Orion News

Team Orion tease us ever more…

04 December 2013 04:26 by Phil  1 Comment

adrien

About 10 days or so ago… well ok, late November time, just before Xmas fever got turned up a notch or 3 Team Orion announced their Nitrostar programme to immediate intrigue and suspense amongst the online RC racing fraternity. Not content with preparing for the winter skiing season Swiss brand Team Orion are gearing up for a serious ‘go’ at this Nitrostar contest, the aim to try and unearth their new ‘star’ or even a future World Champion.

In today’s rather Star Wars-esque themed release, Orion’s nitro guru Adrien Bertin looms alongside his signature engine line like a moody Darth Vader, although we’d say Adrien might need to work on his ‘Vader voice’ in time for next season! So what to glean from this ? Well your guess is as good as ours, new distribution, engine line? Perhaps a byline into the movie biz with George Lucas ?! We’re thinking that the Orion team drivers could play the various parts…? We’re losing ourselves a bit on this one!

Either way, you’ll probably hear it first if you sign up for ‘Jedi training’ @ www.teamorion-nitrostar.com

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Industry News, Team Orion

Team Orion’s ‘Nitrostar’ programme

23 November 2013 15:13 by Phil  No Comment

nitrostar

Team Orion have kept their heads down since their 2WD 1/10 victory with Jared Tebo in September, and it seems they’ve been hard at work behind the scenes working on an X Factor / Pop Idol type program to find ‘the next star’ – Enter your name to be in with a chance to be sponsored for “a full season at the best level”

Not only that, the sneaky Swiss company ended with a bit of a teaser “be the first one to be aware of Team Orion’s next revolution !” - Are Team Orion about to turn the world upside down again with a so called ‘revolution’ ?

Cody King, Jared Tebo, David Ronnefalk, Ryan Cavalieri… all the best Nitro champions won their most beautiful victories with Team Orion. In 2014, Team Orion is proud to organize a World-open race for everyone for the first time in its history !

Its aim : bring to light its future nitro star and sponsor him for a full season at the best level ! Fill out the form, try your luck and be the first one to be aware of Team Orion’s next revolution !

Enter @ www.teamorion-nitrostar.com

Buy Team Orion online

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Industry News, Team Orion

Team Orion RS Limited Edition engine

15 August 2013 17:46 by Phil  3 Comments

orion_rs

Team Orion continue to dominate the column inches, or if you prefer your references in metric… centimetres – this time a more straightforward product announcement with the release of a Limited Edition ‘RS’ – Ronnefalk – Savoya engine celebrating their dominating performance at the European Championships in Reims, France a month ago – taking home TQ, 1st and 2nd.

The 3 port CRF ABI engine is the same as the ones used in David Ronnefalk’s and Reno Savoya’s respective buggys, Orion horsepower propelling the pair to a tense last few laps battle during the dying minutes of the main final. Orion tell us that the engine is available now with a limited quantity of 100 pieces. So if you want one, contact your nearest supplier today!

Part # ORI80695 CRF RS Limited Edition ABI Combo (3.5cc buggy engine with pipe)
ORI80696 CRF RS Limited Edition ABI (3.5cc buggy engine)

Features: 3 Ports, 2.8HP, 36’000RPM, .21 3.5cc displacement, 16.2mm bore, 16.9mm stroke, 7x19x6mm Swiss front bearing, 14.2×25.3×6.3mm Ceramic rear bearing, Patented SG type CRF crankshaft, 2 needle aluminum carburetor, 350g weight

Buy Team Orion Products at A Main

 

pipe RS_Engine_2 RS_Engine_3 crankshaft_4

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in: 1/8 Offroad, 2013 Euros, Engines, Team Orion

All Change at Team Orion

15 August 2013 08:41 by Phil  3 Comments

orion_exclusive

After last week’s startling news that nitro engine guru Adrien Bertin looked to have parted ways with Team Orion we heard from the big man himself, Philippe Neidhart, founder of Team Orion in 1987. Philippe kindly allowed us to interview him on the major news, it’s fair to say the Bertin story was only scratching the surface.

To give you some background reminders, the most recent twist in the Orion saga was the change in ownership as Kyosho stepped in and bought the company in 2008 – a move that was viewed as a lateral expansion for Kyosho – picking up the high performance competition brand in fields of nitro and electric racing.

'Done Deal' - the late Masayuki Susuki fromer President of Kyosho with Philippe Neidhart of Team Orion and Joel Johnson (then of Kyosho USA)

2007: ‘Done Deal’ – Masayuki Suzuki of Kyosho with Philippe Neidhart of Team Orion and Joel Johnson (then of Kyosho USA)

Back to the Future and its all change, whilst the original article stated that Adrien Bertin was no longer employed by Team Orion, it seems he wasn’t the only one as Philippe tells us as of August 1st there were no longer any employees left at Team Orion!

After a slight suave (ok unsophisticated) raising of an eyebrow by yours truly at that news, Philippe continued to explain that a restructure has taken place, whereby former employees of Team Orion (TO) are now working directly for Neidhart S.A.- Philippe’s own company which includes RC product distribution as well as the development of in house brands (e.g. nVision).

neidhart_logo

The conclusion –
Kyosho have handed back full control to Neidhart

He went onto stress that Team Orion still exists and the brand is stronger than ever, having the “best product line-up ever and winning the Worlds and many other titles in on-road, off-road, nitro and electric classes”.

However the restructure is the result of a rather drastic rethink – the brand, intellectual property and future is now controlled in full by Neidhart.

Click ‘More’ to continue reading…

more »

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in: 1/10 Offroad, 1/8 Offroad, Feature, nVision, Short Course, Team Orion

Bertin splits from Team Orion ?

09 August 2013 10:55 by Phil  1 Comment

The pitlane chatterbox after the Euros has been awash with rumours concerning the future of Team Orion – even more so their nitro engine guru Adrien Bertin, who we heard split from the Swiss Kyosho-owned firm. According to our sources, strains between FDL – the Franco/European distribution arm of Kyosho and Team Orion saw pressures from Orion’s parent company Kyosho to oust Bertin from his position, perhaps linked to FDL’s engine of choice to sell being the Novarossi – a brand they distribute in France & UK, rather than Team Orion in those territories.

We hear that news filtered out in FDL’s distribution chain prior to the Euros of Bertin’s association with Team Orion coming to an end, although his presence at the Euros some weeks ago presiding over a memorable 1,2 finish from Ronnefalk & Savoya seems to have contradicted that somewhat.

We haven’t managed to get hold of Adrien yet for his official comment but have heard that as of August 1st he was no longer employed by Team Orion but still working on the CRF project – calling into question the high end racing marque’s future in the nitro engine market..

adrien_bertin_orion

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Distribution News, Driver News, Industry News, Team Orion

Orion’s Bertin on Kanai departure

07 May 2013 16:49 by Phil  No Comment

kanai_or

Earlier today Kyosho’s driver/designer guru Yuichi Kanai announced somewhat ‘low key’ that he and Team Orion would be going their seperate ways, its the second time a former World Champion Kyosho driver departs the Switzerland based powerhouse after 2010 World Champion Cody King failed to agree contractual terms and switched to race Reds engines in 2013 who offered a better deal. No doubt Orion have been shrewd over the winter having consolidated the talent they have on their books with muti-year deals for many key drivers…

We spoke with Orion’s engine developer guru Adrien Bertin who kindly issued an exclusive statement on Kanai’s departure:

orionlog“Sadly, Team Orion and Yuichi Kanai have been unable to come to an agreement for their future collaboration and both parties have decided to part ways.

Team Orion wishes good success to Yuichi Kanai for his future endeavors. We will of course continue developing and producing engines based on the CRF world champion technology and our motivation is as strong as ever. Our current team comprises several high profile international drivers such as Jared Tebo, Ryan Cavalieri, David Ronnefalk, Dakotah Phend, Casey Peck and new comers Reno Savoya, Drew Moller. Expect more strong showings from Team Orion CRF engines at international and local races. The legend goes on!”

Via Adrien Bertin

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Driver News, Team Orion

Yuichi Kanai leaves Team Orion

07 May 2013 11:14 by Phil  No Comment
kanai_orion

Kanai waves goodbye to Team Orion power

orionwhitesm2Surprise news from Kyosho’s Buggy guru designer / godfather of the Inferno series of buggys Yuichi Kanai – announcing his departure from engine sponsor Team Orion – Kanai having run for the Swiss company which was purchased by Kyosho (in 2007) since 2009. The move comes as a surprise given Kyosho’s owning stake in Orion which rouses our suspicions a bit that something might be going on…

“I had decided to leave from Team Orion by my personal reason, it was very hard for me to make the decision. Thank you very much for the great help and support of Team Orion past days, especially great thanks to Philippe and Adrien, they have been taking care of me a lot. In the time, I had very happy to work with them and enjoyed the team a lot. Thank you very much for everything and I wish Team Orion Products all the success in the future.”

Source: FaceBook

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Driver News, Industry News, Kyosho, Team Orion

Orion wrap up Cavalieri

01 March 2013 12:32 by Phil  No Comment

orionblackJust in time for the 2013 Worlds year, Orion have announced that defending double World Champion Ryan Cavalieri will be running the firm’s speed controllers as of today having previously used LRP’s models, most recently winning the 2013 Reedy Offroad Race. The Cavalieri – Orion partnership goes back an impressive 7 years – running the full line up of BL motors, nitro engines, batteries and chargers.

“I would first like to thank Jurgen and Reto from LRP. They have provided me with great support over the years and have helped me win 3 IFMAR World Championships along with many other races. I would also like to thank Philippe Neidhart, Oscar Jansen, and Joe Pillars for the great continued support of Team Orion Products.

Team Orion has been behind me basically from the start of my professional career and it feels great to now run the complete power package.“

Orion tell us that Cav will be debuting the full Orion setup at the Cactus Classic, in just over two week’s time.

cav_orion

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in: 1/10 Offroad, Driver News, Team Orion

Orion VST2 Pro motors

01 February 2013 08:58 by Phil  No Comment

orionblack

New from Team Orion come the Vortex VST2 Pro electric brushless motors. Introduced just before the fair and already successful by winning the prestigious Reedy Race of Champions in the hands of Team Orion Factory driver Ryan Cavalieri just a week ago the motors are redesigned from the ground up and feature a new vented can design with dual sensor port endbell for more sensor routing possibilities and also speedo programming through the port, the motors sport pre-shaped heavy-duty solder tabs, better magnet efficiency, an extra thick connection ring for the copper winding and the motors come including a magnet removal tool for easy maintenance.

The motors are available in all popular windings from 3.5T to 9.5T, as special stock variant and also as ‘outlaw’ 4-pole variant. Additionally the VST2 Pro also comes as 4.5T to 7.5T 550-size 2-pole motor and 4000kv 4-pole variant. The motors include a special plastic part that optionally covers the solder tabs and that acts as a guide for the sensor wire if needed.

Story & photos: www.Area52.cc

TeamOrion-VortexVST2Pro-1

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in: 1/10 Offroad, Motors, Nuremberg 2013, Team Orion

New Vortex VST2 Pro Brushless Motors

24 January 2013 12:10 by KevinR  1 Comment

A day after announcing the release of their new Advantage ONE406 charger, Team Orion released the following information of their completely new Vortex VST2 motor design…

The VST2 Pro features a convenient dual sensor port system which allows the motor to be installed in your car in the best possible way. The empty port can be used to easily program your ESC through the motor. A protection cap for the second port is included. In 1/8 off-road racing robustness is incredibly important. For the VST2 Pro motor we use an extremely robust and massive aluminum case in combination with high quality screws. We also improved the cooling with a new ventilation concept. With the 4 pole technology the brand new VST2 Pro are as smooth and powerful as never before. The torque of these power plants is just amazing! We use high quality stator materials in combination with precision balanced rotors for highest efficiency and power output. The easy to use low resistance tabs complete the great features of the motor which is available in three different KV versions.
SEE: www.teamorion.com

New Vortex VST2 Pro Brushless Motors

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in: 1/8 Offroad, Motors, Team Orion