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But there is a reason all the pros are gradually ditching the neck brace...particularly when they get on 450’s. It’s possible to muscle around a 250 with less than on point technique, but it’s MUCH more difficult (not impossible, but more difficult) on a 450. And at the pro level, they are making minuscule adjustments to the bike, their body and their technique to give them an edge...and the neck braces disappear.
It’s possible to go insanely fast with a neck brace...those guys pictured prove that...
I don’t know? Maybe there are no performance gains to not wearing one and the pros just don’t believe in them, and they don’t want to take the money and use a product they don’t believe in (which doesn’t hinder their performance in way)?
Or Maybe they believe in them, but these top pros just can’t get a neck brace company to pay them enough money to wear their product, so they’d rather risk injury and not wear one, rather than wear one for free?
I’m thinking they are seeing performance gains once they ditch the brace and that is why the pros aren’t wearing them any more (But I’m a nobody with zero first had knowledge...so I could be wrong.)
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I learned playing baseball in HS and legion is that (I was a catcher) your protective gear has to be an integral part of your body. It should give you a feeling of being naked when you don't wear it. Proper fitment and adjustment is paramount.
My theory on the reason pros are ditching them is because more and more riders are wearing under the jersey chest protectors. Its a a requirement in MXGP. Its very challenging to find the perfect combination of under the jersey chest protectors that work with the preferred neck braces, and factoring in the equipment endorsements. I like the A Stars A1 chest protector and I like my Atlas neck brace. The Atlas doesn't work perfectly with the A1 (but it does work). I don't care for the Atlas chest protectors and I don't care for the Astars neck brace. Finding that perfect combination is very difficult. so the riders are electing to go with the preferred under the jersey chest protector over the neck braces.
I just don't think there is a perfect set up. JMHO
This topic always gets messy. Do I think pros should where more than a super thin jersey? Yeah definitely but in the end it really is personal choice
You can see/hear him say it on the highlight video by nbcsn too
I think he is pretty spot on with a lot of his riding teachings. No other sports (except offensive line mean) wear braces. The body is meant to move not be locked up. Skiing for example has wwaaaayyy more knee injuries then moto and we don’t wear braces. And knee braces do nothing to prevent acl tears in the most common way they happen on skis, backwards twisting falls.
To each there own.
If people don’t want to wear one, don’t wear one. But industry folks responsible for training people should not say shit that’s just not true when something related to safety is involved.
Note AJ says he would NEVER tell someone to not wear a neck brace. To each their own and if they want to wear one, then wear one. I’m just proving that Ryno is wrong in his statements about it preventing riding with proper form and technique. That is total BS.
Again, to each their own. It’s fair to question if someone thinks they actually prevent injury or not. Totally fair. Wear one or don’t wear one. That’s fine. Just don’t make BS statements to support your personal position on the topic. That’s all.
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