Safety is always paramount in motorcycle racing at the highest levels and now, thanks to Alpinestars, one of the most advanced and sophisticated current technologies is now available in Australian dealerships. Alpinestars Australia has officially launched Tech-Air Race, with over a decade of relentless research, development and testing to its credit.

The innovative Tech-Air technology, the world’s first and only completely independent full upper-body airbag system, that protects Alpinestars’ world championship athletes is available in its latest form, Tech-Air Race – reinforcing the company’s mission to bring its customers the same class-leading protection and performance as that of the world’s leading professional riders.

The latest technology announced, Tech-Air Race benefits from the extensive Tech-Air research and development program, which began in 2001 and led to the launch of Alpinestars’ first-generation racing airbag in MotoGP in 2009, the second generation in 2013 and in the following year, the ground-breaking Tech-Air Street.

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During the Australian launch directly prior to Phillip Island’s Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener, headed by Alpinestars media communications manager Jeremy Appleton, it was incredible to hear just how much R&D has gone into the Tech-Air system. That includes on-track with its top-level athletes and also in extensive crash-testing laboratories.

“The development of the Alpinestars Tech-Air system started in 2001 and has been a very significant research project ever since,” Appleton explained. “We believe that airbag technology is the future for motorcycle safety. Active protection systems with an airbag system offer much, much greatest levels of impact protection and are ultimately very convenient as well.

“The systems are self-contained in the suits or jackets and inflate when required during an accident, so we’ve been able to create the first fully independent, full upper-body protection system that doesn’t rely on any sensors on the motorcycle, nor any form of external sensing device. It’s extremely usable in any condition, with any type of motorcycle.

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“For the development of Tech-Air, we did a lot of the analysis and testing in MotoGP. That’s a very controlled environment and we also have full technical support at the track, so we’re working very closely with the riders that Alpinestars supports. Looking at the data that’s collected and the results of the accidents, particularly the loss of control type of data, has given us a very good lead for the research and development of the system that is now a customer system.

“The street is a different environment to the race track, so we had to do a complete research project on the street technology in its own right, but for sure, MotoGP played a big part in giving us data and feedback on the use of the system.

“In terms of rider confidence, the Tech-Air definitely makes a difference. Like wearing a good helmet, you feel completely different riding a motorcycle without it. We see this as the future of safety and also something that is going to inspire confidence. Ultimately, come the time, it will make a difference if the worst happens and you experience an accident.

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Double defending WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea was in attendance at the launch and shared his fascinating experience with the Tech-Air. Now, he admits, riding without the airbag functioning isn’t an option whether he is testing or racing. And he’s completely serious when he says so, despite having his doubts when the technology was first presented to him.

“In all honesty, when it was presented to me I was quite reluctant,” Rea reflected. “Vainly, I was thinking about added weight and uncomfort, but as soon as I had my first suit made and I got into it, I thought ‘well, this isn’t so bad’. I persevered and felt really, really comfortable.

“The first time I tested the suit was in Lausitzring in race one last season. I had a pretty nasty fall, which threw me down into the ground and I couldn’t really feel a massive explosion or anything go off. It was surprising, because I knew the airbag had gone off, but the biggest proof was in the hours after the crash and the next morning – I felt completely fine and went out the next day to win a race. I’ve tested it even more recently at Jerez. It was an ambulance job, a turn three high-side, so they carted me off. Less than one hour later after lunch I went out and went even faster.

“So now, on Monday we arrived [at Phillip Island] and my assistant hadn’t plugged something in. Checking the Tech-Air lights is part of my ritual now and they didn’t come on… I had a heart failure and my confidence had gone! I was actually thinking that I’d have to jump into another suit and that I won’t ride a motorcycle without this now – it’s almost like a helmet. But anyway, he plugged a wire in and we didn’t lose much time at all.”

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Tech-Air Race features:
– Unique dual charge: This patented innovation offers the rider two airbag inflations without needing to reset or recharge the system after the first charge, thus enabling greater convenience and peace-of-mind protection. This allows the rider to crash once, then continue riding while having the same level of protection without the need to immediately change or update the system.

– Sophisticated algorithm: Using Alpinestars’ exclusive custom analysis software specially developed to detect a crash with the greatest speed and precision, Tech-Air Race once fired is typically fully inflated in 45 milliseconds.

– Critical protection coverage: The Tech-Air Race is the only system to provide comprehensive, extended upper-body protection including back, shoulders, kidney area and chest – all of the most exposed areas during a crash.

– Versatility: Tech-Air Race is the only self-contained and stand-alone system to offer critical, first-impact airbag protection. With no physical nor electronic connections between rider and bike the system functions without relying on external and uncontrollable external influences such as GPS.

– Freedom to ride: Tech-Air Race offers unparalleled freedom and versatility. With no connections between bike and rider both systems are completely independent, which means a rider can have class-leading airbag protection on any motorbike, regardless of make or model. Tech-Air Race can be used for performance track riding, but also via a system firmware swap, can be configured to run the specific and uniquely optimised Street algorithm for the ultimate in versatility.

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Allowing customers to benefit from the technology innovations developed in the most challenging professional circuits around the world, the Tech-Air Race system provides the same class-leading upper body protection as Alpinestars athletes in world championship racing and is ideal for serious track day and performance riders.

Available from Alpinestars dealers, sold separately to compatible Alpinestars suits and jackets, the Tech-Air Race is the world’s first completely self-contained airbag system, with no bike-to-rider set-up configurations required. The system vest is tight-fitting, to ensure fitment under the suit and to securely keep the full body protection in place in the event of an impact.

Ensuring the ultimate in convenience, freedom and versatility, with a convenient system firmware switch-over, the Tech-Air Race system can be configured to run the Tech-Air Street algorithm, which is specifically and uniquely optimised for non-race use in road and in adventure touring off-road situations.

The recommended service interval of the Tech-Air system is every two years. The service is carried out by Alpinestars and it includes a full service and diagnostic check, including software updates, as well as cleaning and washing of the vest (shipping charges to and from Alpinestars dealers are not included).

Following an airbag deployment, a system recharge service is carried out by Alpinestars and will include replacement of inflators and airbag, as well as a full system service, diagnostic check, as well as cleaning and washing of the vest.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Alpinestars Australia had current Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss, of the Crankt Protein Honda Racing team, on-hand to take part in a live demonstration (triggered remotely) and everything stated during the presentation was reflected in that live inflation. It’s never been a better time to be a motorcyclist, in terms of rider safety.

The cost of the high-tech airbag system is $1599.95 for the Tech Air Race vest (M-L-XL), which is compatible with the GP Tech V2 1PC suit (44-58) at $2595.95, GP Pro suit (44-64) at $1795.95 or GP Tech V2 leather jacket (48-60) at $1299.95. Meanwhile, the alternate Tech-Air Street vest (S-2XL) is $1599.95, primarily suited to the Valparaiso jacket (S-2XL) at $1149.95 or Viper jacket (S-2XL) at $699.95.

For further information on the Alpinestars Tech-Air Race system – or the Street version – head to your local dealer. Additional details on Alpinestars Australia can be viewed via national distributor Monza Imports’ website at www.monzaimports.com.au.