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In each Grand Prix, both Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa need something more than the motorcycle to go out onto the track. We’re referring, of course, to the suit, the gloves, and the boots. Beyond the simple function of suiting them up in the team’s colours, Alpinestars make sure that all the riders’ materials meet the safety standards required at the World Championship. Do you know how many suits can be used by the Repsol Team riders in one season?
Equipment for each GP
The Repsol Honda Team riders receive, at least, four suits for each race, including the Tech-Air race airbag system, in addition to three pairs of boots and a minimum of three pairs of GP Pro gloves. Likewise, both Dani and Marc receive a chest protector and a back protector for each GP. They are pieces especially developed for the preferences of each of our riders.
They also have four sets of technical underlayers for the suit to complete their equipment. With all this, they are ready to race in the Grand Prix!
Knees and elbows, especially sensitive
In any case, the end sum of suits, gloves, and boots used throughout the year is not definitive. We must keep in mind that all riders before or after can suffer an accident during training or in the races, meaning some pieces will need to be replaced immediately. The same things happens with the shoulder pads and knee pads, very sensitive material depending on the riding style of each rider. In some cases, there are riders that can use up to three sets per day to protect these body parts!
Reusable material
In fact, the race suits are developed and designed to be especially resistant. Therefore, they can be generally be used from one race to another. In order to reuse material, logically, the activity log is updated and they are cleaned both inside and out, in addition to exhaustive revisions of the airbag system.
If Dani or Marc has an accident in the race, the suits are returned to the Alpinestars Racing Development Centre, in the north of Italy, for a rigorous inspection of the damage and, if possible, a repair. If a repair is possible, the activity log is updated and the suit is prepared to be sent and used in the next Grand Prix.
Meticulous in development and the calendar
Accuracy in each step is one of the basic rules when designing these pieces. First, because the margin of difference between each suit, glove, or boot must be non-existent. It’s what is known as a scrupulously reduced coping range. All the equipment must be identical.
With the demands that the MotoGP riders endure, both their comfort and safety must be absolutely optimal. Furthermore, the riders are very sensitive to the slightest change, so the production protocols are as strict as possible to ensure that everything is done following their requests.
The other aspect to keep in mind are the logistics. All the necessary equipment for each GP is delivered, whenever possible, three days in advance. Furthermore, it is directly hand-delivered to the circuit, which guarantees the perfect arrival of the material, without errors caused by uncontrolled shipments.
