KEY POINTS
- Shot Race Gear and In&motion have teamed up to create SRG, the first ever airbag for motocross bringing an unprecedented level of protection to the sport.
- Shot Race Gear, experts in dirtbike rider equipment, and In&motion, experts in airbag technology for action sports, push the boundaries to protect motocross riders regardless of their level.
- The SRG offers true rider freedom, without cables or sensors on the bike.
- Constant improvement of the algorithm that fuels the SRG gives riders peace of mind to use the best available data to keep them safe.
- The Inflator (gas canister) is easy to change in less than one minute.
- Both the airbag cushion and vest are designed to withstand multiple inflations.
Based on accident statistics, spinal cord and vital organ injuries pose major concerns for the motocross community worldwide. After three years of research and development Shot Race Gear and In&motion are proud to launch the SRG airbag. The proven In&motion connected technology of the SRG represents an historical breakthrough in rider protection for motocross.
While well established in other motorcycle segments such as MotoGP, Dakar and touring an effective airbag system for motocross has proven tough to crack. This is why Shot Race Gear and In&motion have joined forces to innovate with the world’s first motocross specific airbag. Both brands brought their own specific experience to the table in bringing the SRG, short for Shot Air Guard, to life. The result is the most protective motorcross body armor ever.
Since 2014 In&motion has been at the forefront of airbag technology for a large group of users from motorcycle riders, to skiers and equestrians. Currently In&motion 85 strong staff already reduce the impact of crashes and severity of injuries for more than 80.000 users. On average In&motion protects 15 falls a day. More than 1,5 million kilometers of offroad riding have been recorded so far.
“I’ve been using the SRG in practice and during races for a while now,” says former MX1 world champion David Philippaerts. “The weight feels well balanced and the construction allows you to move without restriction so it’s very easy to get used to. Wearing the SRG gives me the reassurance that I’m well protected in all conditions. Taking care of my body has allowed me to win as a professional rider and to continue riding the way I’m doing now. Using the SRG to avoid injuries has been a no-brainer for me and my family.”
Design of the SRG focused on two principles: detection and protection. At the heart of the jacket is the In&box of In&motion. This high-tech brain, the size of a mobile phone, at the back of the SRG measures the position of the rider 1.000 times per second through its built-in accelerometers. The realtime data is processed by algorithms that will anticipate a crash and the inflation of the airbag. Inflation itself literally happens two times quicker than the blink of an eye at 30 milliseconds, or 0,030 of a second.
The logging of motocross riding data has been crucial to leverage In&motion’s technology for the specific demands of the SRG. All Shot Race Gear riders including from the Fantic Factory motocross teams, the GSM HBI Dafy Michelin World Supercross team and a rostrum of 200 amateur riders have all contributed to finetune the algorithms. Moreover the connected nature, unique on the electronic airbag market, of the product and the rise in AI capabilities allow continuous updates and further improvements to the predictive formula that’s managing inflations.
“Our mission is to make airbag technology available to the largest group of riders possible by adapting to their needs. We want to protect all MX riders, from the elite to supercross athletes to weekend warriors,” says In&Motion co-founder Pierre-François Tissot. “This partnership with Shot Race Gear is the culmination of three years of work. Our collaboration with many Shot athletes allowed us to understand specific requirements for motocross as well as the circumstances and impact of crashes.”
In addition to the integrated airbag pocket the SRG contains a D3O chest protector at the front and a D3O back protector. These passive protectors by themselves, respectively level 2 certified at the back and level 1 certified for the chest (chest level 2 is also available), equal the best protection currently available. Thanks to the CE certified airbag SRG achieves an unparalleled level of coverage for vital areas of the upper body, including the back, neck, abdomen and thorax.
“Taking this amazing protective technology and wrapping it in the most effective design for motocross has been key to everything we do,” says Shot Race Gear developer Axel Le Nagard “The SRG is lightweight, highly ventilated and we spend a lot of time to get the fit and the balance just right. All of this, in combination with the D3O protection gives you the confidence on the bike to push and go for it. This is a game changer for our sport.”
Presented to motocross community stakeholders like the FIM, Infront, many of the national governing bodies, doctors, insurers and team managers the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. “One of the major takeaways from our conversations is that this is the future of upper body protection. The degree of injury prevention is simply next level compared to anything else. Just like the airbag technology has revolutionized safety in rallyraid and MotoGP we’re convinced that the SRG can do the same in motocross,” concludes Shot Race Gear CEO Ghislain Huot.
The SRG airbag vest will be available in September at 399,99 €. Consumers then can choose between buying the In&box at 400€ (making the full package at 799,99€) or leasing the In&box at 120€/year or 12€/month in order to benefit for In&box lifetime guarantee and a premium customer service. Updates are included anyway whatever the formula selected.
