Markza

Founded in 2001, **Markza CNC Machining** is a Filipino high grade weapon and vehicle parts manufacturer, best known for their incredibly reactive "Kanata" sub-brand of suspension parts. The first major team since the series' inception, **Markza** is an influential team on the history of the Super Modified League as a whole, as they were the ones who opened the sport up to more high and low level experimental teams.

## Basic Information

### Rivals

Orca AdvancementsReflex Heavy Industries
Scale Up Moving Co.

## Important People

### Key Figures

Jay Aero (Race Engineer)
Yans Songen (Mechanic)
Emi Cruz (Mechanic)
Kyoko Asakura (Race Queen, Pre-2042, Mechanic, 2044)

### Known Drivers

Kei Ishida (#1 Driver)
Rosaline Asakura (#2 Driver)
Kai Anurai (Backup Driver)
Kyoko Asakura (Backup Driver, 2046)

## History

While the exact date is unknown, Markza as a company originally emerged to the public around 2001. A slew of odd theories surround the company's inception. Some believe that the company emerged from the Philippines' growing military sector needing their own company to release their products to, while others believe a single gunsmith opened the company long before they emerged, collecting resources and creating products before going public. Either way, Markza's products have spread around the world, creating a fearsome and respected reputation as one of the best weapon component manufacturers in the world.

Later on, sometime between 2024 and 2026, they had expanded into car parts as a secondary business under a different marque: Kanata Suspension. Advertised as the "easiest to tune racing Suspension systems available", Markza now had a respectable reputation in both the automotive and arms industries. Kanata Suspension Systems are known for known for remarkably sharp and reactive nature, giving any driver who used them a major advantage. The brand itself was subsequently banned from multiple organizations for reducing the skill and costs needed for official racing, though the official reason given was that the systems were "unsafe" in multiple ways. With no outlet for their suspension research, Markza went back to manufacturing weaponry parts until the eventual emergence of the now iconic Super Modified League, which allowed for unusual technology in a vehicle to be used as a testbed.

Markza joined under the guise of Markza Autosports, and in their first season, produced many respectable high placed finishes on the earlier technical circuits of the league. As years passed by, these small wins here and there turned into league season victories remaining unmatched until Orca Advancements joined the league in 2037, cutting Markza's 3 year consistent streak with their first championship win on some of the more power based courses.

While a friendly rivalry at first, around 2041 was where things became much more serious with what has become known as the "1081 Fireball Incident", leaving both of the teams on extremely bad terms with each other after the constant back and forth blaming and subsequent outlawing of Orca's SharkRam technology alongside the heavily implied loss of nearly $8 million in damages towards the organization, Markza, and the owners of the track. To this day, Orca drivers are always advised to use their weighty vehicles to ram, bully, and decommission Markza cars to make up for their losses. Being omnipresent since the Super Modified League's inception, Markza has become a major fan favorite and driver favorite team due to their vehicles easygoing and easy to control nature due to their prototypical Kanata K6 suspension system (which has been leaked by some unknown 3rd party to be able to immediately adjust to specific temperature and track conditions when switched to a specific auto-adjust mode). No matter what Orca does to this resilient Filipino team, Markza has shown that they're here to stay.

## Super Modified Info

> *"A precision based team, Markza has some of the best handling in the league alongside great acceleration. Lacking in top speed with middling shielding, Markza fans are quick to deny they have any flaws... despite the fact that they do."*
>
> - Super Modified Game Guide
>
>

Markza is remarkable for having 3 strong stats that make this team a solid choice for beginner freelancers and veterans alike: responsive control, high acceleration, and incredible weapon power. However, their top speed is incredibly poor, the 2nd lowest of the 6 main teams ingame (only defeated by X-Project), and also has below average shielding. Their craft are lightweight, and incredibly advantageous on many technical circuits and routes, and can make up places quickly with a simple shot from almost any weapon. However, this team tends to struggle on circuits with longer straights and high speed sections, making the Afterburner the only option to make up time, which eats into this team's already below average shielding.

## Team Stats

#### Strategy

* Markza's preferred track layouts are highly technical routes that allow their cars' incredible acceleration and maneuverability to really shine, as their raw speed otherwise lacks and straight lines are very friendly for powerful weapons like the Railcannon, which could melt through your vehicle's shield energy.
* Move and weave through cars that are moving slower than you, Markza's acceleration is easily forgiving to rapid maneuvers when it's required.
* Don't bother trying to block if the opponent has a weapon, your shielding is below average at best and trying to play defensive can get punishing very quickly with the poor shields against most of the other teams.

## 2058 Background

*As years and years of the Super Modified Series have flown by, a constant that has almost always been there is Markza CNC: a firearms manufacturer that has taken it upon themselves to keep the torch of the old ways while still innovating on their racing technology.*

*With their choice of short gearing and incredible suspension systems that can adapt to almost any condition, alongside the obviously powerful weapons systems point to their vehicles this season being as agile, if not moreso than its predecessors. However, the care taken by their best drivers and tracks chosen for shakedowns have pointed to what seems to be their major weaknesses: Speed and Durability.*

## 2058 Message

**Press Conference with #1 Driver Kei Ishida, April 19, 2058, Metro Meridian**

Hello, settle down, yes, it's me, the "queen" of Super Modified. I know, it's been a while since I've really had to bring up anything... especially since the incident 10 years ago, but I think this year's the year that Markza wins best team again. I may have been a 5 time champion and I love being one of the best this sport really has to offer, but I also realize that our standings have been middling since the 2041 incident.

The cars we have prepared for these next events are absolutely ready for whatever lies ahead, especially since we've slightly improved the shield technology but also vastly improved our handling... I'm sure you know why, and I think I know which one of you took it upon yourselves to spread the news. But... Yes, it's time for the official reveal: our suspension does now react live to the conditions on track if we choose to do so. I have chosen to turn this electronic assist system off, as I personally do not need it.

However, this doesn't discount the effort the research and development team at this place has put in to create something that genuinely feels like a groundbreaking achievement, as this "living suspension" could allow for more grip to come from the same tires on cars in the future, this technology COULD save lives in the future. But, we're in the now, and I'm focused forward with one intention this series: win, for our entire team, rather than just myself.

The hard work isn't done yet, might I say it's just started. There's a long road between us and the title this season, so we're going to race hard and strong to get another title win for this team.

## Gallery

Markza's Brabham BT62, used in Standard Super Modified eventsMarkza's Honda NSX RB, used in the Metro Meridian Super Modified Championship#2 Driver Rosaline Asakura's Custom RS CosworthMarkza's Mazda RX-7 TCP Magic, used in Standard Super Tuner events.Markza's Schuppan 962 "Tropical", used in the "Super Modified Sunset Island Cup".#1 Driver Kei Ishida's Custom R33 LM NismoMarkza's Lynk & Co 03+ Cyan "Astral", used in the Array 7 Championship.Rosaline Asakura's Tuner class Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 Stradale, used in Tuner Class.Rosaline Asakura's Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO, used in Super Modified Class.
## Trivia

* Markza's exact founding date is unknown, but can be cropped to 2001.
* Markza was created as one of AG-S' custom firearm marques, and is still used as a name with the KZ rifle series.
* This is the one of only two teams to only have more than one Star Driver on their roster: the other is Hanrai.