Alpinestars Debuts Tech-Air MX
Airbag Chest Protector
A
lpinestars debuted its new
Tech-Air MX airbag system.
The prototype chest protector is
the latest addition to the Tech-
Air airbag lineup and the first
for motocross-specific riding.
The pre-production protector
has been cleared for practice
sessions at the FIM Motocross
World Championship.
Alpinestars began their data
logging with motocross athletes
in FIM MXGP and AMA Super
-
cross back in 2016 in order to
develop an algorithm that could
deploy an airbag in the dynamic
conditions of motocross racing.
The new Tech-Air MX system
features six integrated sensors
that monitor the rider's body for
shocks or unexpected move
-
ments and communicate with
the system's computer a thou-
sand times per second. Upon
identifying a crash situation, the
algorithm triggers the deploy-
ment of the protective airbag
with an average inflation time of
40 milliseconds. Impact absorp-
tion is claimed to be four times
more protective than a standard
chest protector.
The battery life will provide
the system with 30 hours of ride
time, and the bladder is said
to be certified for four to six
deployments before requiring
a service. Three riding modes
will also be available, with each
mode offering an optimized
algorithm to detect impacts and
deploy the airbag in a crash situ
-
ation, specific to the user's type
of riding.
The Tech-Air MX system is
available now to professional
FIM MXGP and AMA MX/SX
riders, while the final production
models are scheduled for the
second half of 2025.
"Today I've been riding with
the pre-production version of
Tech-Air MX body protection
from Alpinestars," said MXGP
winner Jeffrey Herlings. "It was
very surprisingly good. I really
enjoyed doing it. There has been
a lot of development done on it,
and I think it's something for the
future. I think having an airbag in
motocross could really benefit,
you know, the protection for us
and the safety of us riders."
CN
WIND
IN THE
P42
Motocrossers now have airbag-
technology protection with
Alpinestars' new Tech-Air MX
airbag system.
