New Rule for 2028 MXGP Season AND Motocross of Nations: Functional Airbag System is Mandatory

I personally think it's a great idea. At the speeds pro guys are going and how rough the tracks get, I think it will help reduce injuries. Yes, it's new but I it's appropriate for rider safety.

Look what it has done for MotoGP. None of those guys would go out without one now. 

It's natural to think that mandating something new for the sake of safety is overstepping ones personal choice. And I appreciate that, but I also feel like the organizing parties or association that organize racing should do everything they can to makes participation safer if possible.

 Think about F1 and how much controversy and hate there was with the idea of the Halo in 2018. Eight years later and multiple driver's lives have been saved because of it. I don't think any drivers would go out in a car without it now. 

Motocross is inherently dangerous! Why not do our best with technology to make it a bit safer?

If this change keeps even one Pro Rider from having a career ending injury, its a win. Understand the opinions here, but it's not like these guys are cruising around a practice track or racing a few weekends a year. Or even like 25y ago, racing 38hp factory 125s. These things are all 50hp+ (up to close to 70hp) rockets that do 100km/h in seconds. It's become appropriate for the sport to equip riders to keep them safer. 

ParkingLotWheelies:

Already proven!!  Barcia at A1 was all I needed to see to be convinced this was the next big step in safety.  I won't ride a bike without one anymore.

This made me belly laugh, but true. Fuck the rules.🤣

If used, it may have extended Eli Tomac's career...

Well team USA won’t ever have to concern themselves. 

Serious question... does anyone make an airbag system that are lady friendly? I've had such a hard time finding a decent fitting chest protector.. eventually got the Fox Raceframe.  Airbags look even more daunting. 

I wonder if they are going to enforce this with the women's mxgp class... if so I hope a manufacturer steps up 

They are going to enforce it for FIM MXGP/ MX2/ Women’s World Championships and FIM Motocross of Nations.

If any ladies who read posts here are looking I found this one by Alpinestars:

https://www.alpinestars.com/products/stella-tech-air-3-system-black

Lewis Phillips said he fears this may be another nail in the MXoN coffin... i disagree. 

So save for the tech advances in Helmets, MX gear is utter shit compared to what you could buy 40+ years ago. 

Gloves... Zero Protection at all, JT Flexon  gloves were some of the best for comfort and protection. 

JT V2000, one of the best Body Armours ever made, i still wear one now, great shoulder and collarbone protection, and it also gives protection to head/neck hyperextension as well. 

Helmets.  Yes they are ' better' but the Bell Moto 4 had removable lining, and a peak you could actually use to block roost, rather than the ones today that point at the fucking moon and do nothing to protect the rider.  For Reference the latest Bell still has this, when i put my chin down to my chest, and my wife stands 6ft away, i can see her feet and thats about it, with pretty much every other make, i can see her tits, which may be seen as a benefit in this test , but not when you are sat behind a 450 in the sand. The fact most riders turn their heads sideways now tells you all you need to know. 

We make tracks that hurt riders , and up till recently, chest protectors were optional.  At the pinnacle of the sport you should be leading, i raced in JT stuff because it looked great and it worked, and still does to this day, we need kids to grow up being protected, and that should start at the top. 

Gajser and Renaux have crashed multiple times this season in ways that would have seen them badly hurt IMO, i think its a great call. 

People moaning about cost can fuck off, if they have even $1 of anodised bollocks on their bikes . 

There are people that aren't smart enough to use the belt if it was voluntary. 

The cost for society for such idiots in case of accidents shouldn't be carried by the rest of us.

So if you are fine with medic leaving you as is when they come to a scene and see you didn't use it, I'm also ok with it being voluntary.

Brother the only strong suit I know of is the pinstripe I wear when I have to tell the judge to stick his stinking rules where the sun don't shine!

I'm with you, brother! Rules have no place in motocross. Let me ride whatever bike I want wearing whatever the heck I wanna wear! Speaking of rules, if I don't feel like hitting some liberal ass "table top" then I should be allowed to ride around the damn thing. Why are the AMA sticking their noses into where the pros can ride their own god damn bikes? 

Good question! I know stab proof and bullet proof vests were for a long time only tested for male physiques. So too with crash test dummies in cars. Hopefully such an oversight is rare in 2026. 

After a couple of good crashes with the Tech Air MX I am a fan. I’ve ridden in about as hot and humid conditions as they get and it’s fine. Warm yes, but not that big if a deal.

Did Lewis really say that? - FFS!

Was it used in reference to US Team participation, or, all team(s) participation. 

By then, 2028, there will be more Air Bag systems, and riders at that level - MXdN selection, will probably have them for free, from providers.

You mention JT Flexon Gloves - they were Fantastic! 

Real Protection. That and you had the little Rubber squeegee than you could glue to a slot in  the finger armour ( the Metzler squeegee that you slipped over a finger was great for keeping vision in foul circumstances !) , had me using them for years - as I bought up / was given so many of them.

Though, I remember Mathes and his ' crew ' laughing about Flexons, a few years ago on one of his podcasts, around one of the 'JT Rebirth'  times. Idiots.

The vast amount of gloves now, seem about as protective as the Silk Under gloves that I run ( under my Gloves)  on my Road Bikes in Winter.

Closest I can find now to Flexons, is one of the Mechanics Wear Gloves, that, I can get at my local Bunnings - at around $39 AUD, Black Only. And that's No Problem for this Anti Fashion Bear!. Not quite at the level of Flexons, but far better than most other gloves for protection. 

I've still got a Blue V2000 hanging up, but my favourite BA was the Acerbis Zoom - Kidney Protection, and, Netted / Suspended Shoulder cups, and, available in Big sizes. Wish I could still get them. I recently went to the Leatt Fusion 3 .0 Body armour, with the integral neck brace. So, only one item to pack, (I have a damaged neck that needs protection) , it has good side protection, but no netted Shoulder Cups - I'm thinking of putting some 'still Healthy' Zoom Cups on.

But, I Will be getting an Airbag system, soon. I just wish there were cheaper / universal canisters for them, but, of course, cheap CO2 / 'Whatever' propellant cartridges, I'm pretty sure would not have enough charge to do the job, so proprietary ones seem to be the only 'solution', so far.

**** mind you, the FIMs ' Goggle Lane', is a safety rule that has, seemingly, disappeared ***

Who is forcing these guys to race? Is there a rule currently preventing them from wearing one? If the answers to both questions are no, then you don't need a rule created. 

I think you misunderstood me, we need more Darwin, not less. 

Apparently most MXGP riders already wear airbags. It costs 600 €, about the same or less than their boots or helmets and they might change it less often. Replacement cartridge is 100 €. 

Anyway are there that many MXGP riders paying for their own kit?

Astars with a perfectly timed gram

I wonder if offerings from RXR will be sufficient.

Refill kit 100€ seems expensive other than that i think this is best happened in long time. Lets hope kids kits coming also soon. 

This rule could be really good for the general public .  The big gear brands that do not have an airbag system will not be too excited to have guys they are paying big bucks wearing Alpinestars or Shot  airbags and they are more likely to bring out their own and might get them to do it sooner than they may have. . More options could reduce the price points in a few years. And make entry level airbag systems a possibility.  If they prove to be a beneficial piece of gear over the years like they have in other areas. 

 Imagine if they have something at some point that totally surrounds you like your inside one of those giant balls people  were doing dumb stuff in on Youtube a few years ago.  Your about to crash and them BOOM, your inside a ball bouncing along on a pillow of smoky Co2 filled softness. Safe inside like a baby in their mothers womb.  

 I can see it now.....   

Yes because they took an idea had a gamble spent a shit tonne of money and R&D and made it work. In doing so they are ahead of the game. The others are the ones that need to be thinking about dropping the ball.

Hey Bigfoot have a look at most riders sponsored by non Alpinestars brands most run Astars armour anyway 👍🏻

People bitch and moan about every newly mandated piece of gear. If Vital was around when full face helmets were mandated I’m sure we’d see a similar dialogue. 10 years down the line, when we’ve seen countless crashes that surely would’ve been worse without airbags, no one will be complaining about it

Here you go buddy

I hope A-Stars does really, really well on their Tech Air MX system. They took the chance and did the work, a LOT of work, to bring it to market. I for one am grateful to have it. Getting up in the years, and having already been through the hospital visits, I think this is a meaningful improvement in safety. The first time you crash with one and are flying through the air and anticipating the hit and the next thing you know you are stopped and lying on a pillow is pretty damn cool! 

I plan on buying one soon. Like a helmet and boots, seems like a no brainer to me. I live in Florida and ride in the humidity here, so I hate adding something that's going to make me a bit hotter. But the safety benefits of wearing one take priority over comfort. 

Mandating them for the pro's makes sense to me as well.

Shot  brought there's to market  a little before Alpinestars . Its not available in the US, but its been around  a while.  I saw it  announced before Alpinestars introduced the MX version to the public.   I don't know which one hit the actual market first. but Shot was the first to put it out that they had an airbag  that was made to be used in Motocross.   

Alpinestars is the only MX bag available in the US.  But there are many others that are just not available here yet.  The shot /SRG airbag is about $380 converted to USD 

Another pedestrian hazard...