Alpinestars Tech Air Race Suit Wins PopSci Best of What's New Honor

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

Alpinestars’ Tech Air suit has been included in “Popular Science” magazine’s Best of What’s New list for its coming December 2011 issue.

The MotoGP-derived wireless airbag-equipped racing suit was one of eight products named in the annual award’s “Recreation” category for its safety features.

The Tech Air suit tracks the wearer’s body movements. When the sensors pick up an unusual movement indicating an impending crash, it triggers two nitrogen-based gas canisters in the suit which inflates two airbags protecting the rider’s shoulders and collarbone.

According to Alpinestars, the system can fully inflate the airbags in 0.05 seconds and provide at least five seconds of crash protection.

The suit is equipped with a patented dual charge system so a racer can remount after the airbags have reset, and the system will provide protection in case of a second crash.

Alpinestars has launched a new microsite to explain its airbag technology with an infographic showing sensor information from Jorge Lorenzo’s crash at this year’s U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

[Source: PopSci.com, Alpinestars]

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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