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

Chuckies Demo vid :

This is a positive development; due to this rule, the market for it will change rapidly. All brands will start to develop, and prices will also drop quickly, with both more expensive and cheaper models becoming available. Within a few years, it will be affordable for every avid competitive rider and the new standard.

That's almost  how I pictured it.  Can You imagine a first turn pileup at Glen Helen ?Riders would be bouncing  up and into the crowds. Or at a supercross? The nets would have to be 80 feet tall.      

Something that could predict a fall well enough and inflate like that would be  pretty wild.  It could make riding be similar to a videogame. Other than destroying Your bike, you could really go for some wild stuff.

Didn’t read the whole thread, but: I believe one of the reasons they are compulsory in some road race classes is that, due the weight of the system, some might choose to forgo the safety benefit to gain a performance advantage. (RR systems are heavier than the MX version.)

I guess there is an element of that as well - no one with a better ventilated/lighter weight system (sans airbag) getting an advantage - “Same for everyone”, which is what we need for racing.

I’m also in the “If it doesn’t hurt someone else - it shouldn’t be a rule” camp.
I’m a big believer in helmets/seat belts, but each to their own.
In Nana’s Australia, I can’t choose to ride my pushbike to the shop, on the foot path, without wearing a helmet…..

Times change.

You were once allowed to ditch safety gear to gain an aerodynamic advantage.
(Great story - I have the poster on the wall in my Kitchen!)