Dainese USA to Offer D|air Racing in North America
Misano suit has first motorcycle wireless airbag system offered in the U.S., Canada
COSTA MESA, Calif. – During a launch event held at D-Store Orange County, Dainese USA announced that the company’s state-of-the-art D|air Racing technology will be made available to North American customers in September of this year.
Dainese has a long history of establishing innovation breakthroughs in protective gear for motorcyclists, having invented the back protector, knee slider and more. That tradition continued in the field of wireless airbag technology, with the Italy-based company demonstrating a D|air prototype in 2000 at the Munich motorcycle show. The track-focused D|air Racing system went on to become the first motorcycle airbag to be deployed in a MotoGP event, at the 2007 Valencia Grand Prix, by which time Dainese had also begun developing a road-going version of the system, called D|air Street. Following an exhaustive R&D period that included vital input from MotoGP riders like Valentino Rossi, Dainese launched version 1.0 of D|air Racing in 2011 and D|air Street in 2012, both for European customers. Last year saw the introduction of D|air Ski, as well as Ducati’s launch of the Multistrada D|air, a production motorcycle with a factory-fitted wireless system that communicates with D|air jackets. Now, the latest iteration of D|air Racing will also be available in the U.S. market, by September with the off-the-rack Misano race suit, and afterward with the made-to-measure Mugello version. D|air is the first wireless airbag system available to motorcyclists in North America.
The Misano suit’s aerodynamic back-hump houses seven sensors, three accelerometers, three gyroscopes and a GPS. The rider’s movements are monitored constantly, and when an eminent crash is detected, a sophisticated algorithm is used to trigger a Cool Gas Generator. The 4 liter airbag opens in just 45 milliseconds (15ms triggering time plus 30 ms deployment time), protecting the shoulders, neck and collarbones; a blink of an eye typically takes 300 to 400 ms. D|air Racing also includes a data-acquisition feature that monitors riding performance. Information on lap times, speed, acceleration, braking distances and cornering lines can be downloaded to a computer.
The Misano suit will be available for $2,499 through Dainese D-Stores, D-Corner dealerships, top Dainese resellers and www.dainese.com.An optional Extended Service Package is offered for $299, providing unlimited re-arming for two years, plus a 15% discount for crash-damage repairs.
“We’re very excited to bring D|air Racing to North America,” said Roberto Sadowsky, Dainese USA VP of Operations. “As usual, Dainese has broken new trail with this technology, but we’ve also followed a deliberate, responsible, transparent process that involved obtaining certification from internationally recognized and respected organizations, and establishing the appropriate after-sales support structure. With D|air Racing, track riders in North America will know they’re protected by the most technologically advanced safety-apparel system available.”
About Dainese
Founded in 1972 by company president Lino Dainese, Dainese produces protective wear for motorcycling, mountain biking, winter sports and equestrian use. In 2007, the company acquired premium race and sport helmet manufacturer AGV. Dainese and AGV protective products showcase some of the most innovative technologies in action sports and are used by the world’s top riders. Headquartered in Vicenza, Italy, Dainese is distributed in North America exclusively by Dainese USA, which, along with Parts Unlimited, also distributes AGV helmets.
More, from another press release issued by Dainese:
Dainese Presents D-air Armor
D-air becomes an “open platform” to protect all riders in the World Championship Series
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Dainese presented D-air® Armor, the “open platform” airbag based on D-air technology. This innovative system is the result of over 15 years of research by D-Tec® (Dainese Technology Centre) into airbag technology. D-air Armor is an undergarment for racing suits, featuring an integrated D-air airbag. The undergarment’s back protector houses the entire protection system—electronics, gas generator, wiring, battery and GPS.
D-air Armor represents a genuine milestone in the diffusion of electronic airbag technology in the World Championship Series. Thanks to D-air Armor, all riders can now take advantage of the safety provided by D-air, the same technology used by all official Dainese riders.
Vircos and Furygan will be the first companies to adopt the new Dainese technology. D-air Armor will protect Michele Pirro and Mattia Pasini (Vircos), as well as Mike Di Meglio, Johan Zarco and Sam Lowes (Furygan).
Cristiano Silei, the CEO of Dainese, said: “Making D-air Armor available to all riders in the world championship series is an important milestone in the diffusion of D-air technology, which Dainese has believed in and invested in for over 15 years. We hope that Furygan and Vircos will soon be joined by other partners who share our goal of improving rider safety.”
Iacopo Forte, Product Manager for Vircos added: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the collaboration between Vircos, which makes made-to-measure technical clothing for motorbike riders, and Dainese in the D-air Armor project. This is without any doubt a huge step forward for rider safety. Thanks to this partnership, at last we can combine the outstanding Dainese airbag system with our racing suits and together radically improve safety in this sport.”
Jean Marc Autheman, Export and Racing Manager for Furygan, also commented: “Furygan has been providing its own riders and clients with protective products of the highest possible level for 45 years. When Dainese offered their new D-air Armor system, we took an immediate interest in the project and, after having been able to test and assess the performance of this technology, we gladly accepted the collaboration. Starting from the Catalunya GP, we will be able to offer our riders the first Furygan racing suits fitted with the D-air Armor system.”