Dainese is going to bring a new version of their D-Air airbag suit to market, with inflatable chest protection.
Called the D-Air Thorax, the new suit improves on the existing D-Air Street. The current suit only offers airbag protection in the neck and shoulders; the new one has an inflatable airbag that wraps around the front of your chest and under your arms, offering padding to your ribs.
Naturally, the increased volume in the airbag means Dainese had to increase the size of the gas generator in the suit to pump it fully. When fully inflated (it’s supposed to only take 45 milliseconds), it can absorb up to 85 per cent of a crash’s impact, or so Dainese says.
Current Moto3 points leader Luis Salom has been testing the technology this season, and the system will be available on the D-Air Racing suit first, then on the D-Air Street version next year. Salom’s already put the suit to test in a couple crashes this season, and he seems happy with it, saying it makes him feel more safe.
