New AGV Helmet Tested at Jerez has Winglets!
Development in MotoGP is at an all-time high, but it’s not just bikes that are receiving the latest technology, as a prototype AGV Pista GP-RR helmet had winglets built into it
Factory Honda racer Luca Marini recently tested a prototype AGV Pista GP-RR helmet that had winglets built into it during the one-day MotoGP test at Jerez.
Innovation is what makes MotoGP so special, along with the obvious reasons such as elite-level riders, cutting-edge technology and speeds that will make your eyes roll to the back of your head.
But safety is also paramount, and helmets often play a crucial role in keeping riders safe. That said, helmets aren’t just used as a way of keeping you safe. They also allow riders to show off their personality, or in the case of Marini, add an advantage, as is the case with this aerodynamically-assisted AGV Pista GP-RR prototype.
Wearing what looks like a silver chrome lid, Marini can be seen with thin curved winglets that run along the side of the helmet just beyond the edge of the visor.
AGV is one of the most used helmet choices for riders in MotoGP, with the brand being the helmet of choice for Valentino Rossi throughout his MotoGP career. Subsequently, a lot of riders from Rossi’s VR46 Academy also wear AGV lids, including his half-brother Marini.
This isn’t the first time helmets have featured winglets, as the Alpinestars Supertech R10 has smaller aero winglets on the sides, although these are positioned in an upright position as opposed to horizontal. The Shark Aeron GP is another helmet which uses wings, although that lid is unique thanks to mobile aero elements that move depending on the airflow around the rider.
Both are aimed at achieving similar goals which is to help keep the rider's head more stable while also reducing drag, and it’s the latter which we think Marini may have been testing out with the new AGV.
Personally, I’m a fan of the idea of winglet additions to motorcycles, and think in recent years they have improved the styling and performance, however, the prototype tested by Marini is not the most glamorous looking, and should it ever make it to market, I’d expect it to look a lot tidier.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
