barncooseboy Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Looks like the FIM are going to change the regulations for 2015, already announced for grasstrack. All riders will have to use leather race suitrs New Spec silencers will have to be used, current ones are only licenced till end of 2014 season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Looks like the FIM are going to change the regulations for 2015, already announced for grasstrack. All riders will have to use leather race suitrs New Spec silencers will have to be used, current ones are only licenced till end of 2014 season. I honestly believe that Leathers are far safer than Kevlars. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 I honestly believe that Leathers are far safer than Kevlars. How many times have you tested Kevlars and leathers? I suggest they clamp down on kevlars/leather with holes in before this, admittedly not so common these days but you still see it from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 How many times have you tested Kevlars and leathers? I suggest they clamp down on kevlars/leather with holes in before this, admittedly not so common these days but you still see it from time to time. I wonder why Moto GP has stuck with leather? And I have asked this question before, Moto GP riders have a big back protector 'hump' in their leathers, why don't speedway riders? Didn't receive an answer, previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 (edited) The hump is aerodynamic. Nothing to do with protection. A quick google suggests that medical people don't like them, they get in the way and are a nuisance. Edited April 14, 2014 by SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 The hump is aerodynamic. Nothing to do with protection. A quick google suggests that medical people don't like them, they get in the way and are a nuisance.Yes, it's mainly aerodynamic and MotoGP riders will usually wear separate back protectors underneath the leathers. I'm sure Martin Smolinski used to use one when racing longtrack. I'm not sure if he still does. As for MotoGP using leather; I think the simple fact is that leather offers better abrasion protection and that is far more important in MotoGP than speedway. A rider never slides very far on the track before hitting a fence in speedway, but they can slide a long, long way in MotoGP. If speedway riders want to move on to the lightweight kangaroo leather that MotoGP riders wear, their costs will increase greatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Yes, it's mainly aerodynamic and MotoGP riders will usually wear separate back protectors underneath the leathers. I'm sure Martin Smolinski used to use one when racing longtrack. I'm not sure if he still does. As for MotoGP using leather; I think the simple fact is that leather offers better abrasion protection and that is far more important in MotoGP than speedway. A rider never slides very far on the track before hitting a fence in speedway, but they can slide a long, long way in MotoGP. If speedway riders want to move on to the lightweight kangaroo leather that MotoGP riders wear, their costs will increase greatly. Should be cheaper for the Aussie boys tho.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Should be cheaper for the Aussie boys tho.. Is that how they jump out of the start ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 The hump is aerodynamic. Nothing to do with protection. A quick google suggests that medical people don't like them, they get in the way and are a nuisance. Very interesting SCB, thank you. I am surprised, but there you go. I suppose if leather is more expensive. it adds more pressure on riders costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 IMO "if" leathers are safer and offer more protection ( I am not saying they do) then prehaps the extra cost would be worth it against the present race suits.Would the leathers last longer( I know that riders have team ones in some cases and may move about more these days) but IMO as with helmets they should offer the best protection possible.i have heard that leathers are heavier and more awkward to ride in but I am sure riders could adapt .Also if the rider wishes to he may be able to wear a oversuit to resemble the present race suits to be covered in sponsorship and personalised to their own tastes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Looks like the FIM are going to change the regulations for 2015, already announced for grasstrack. All riders will have to use leather race suitrs New Spec silencers will have to be used, current ones are only licenced till end of 2014 season. I thought they were having to wear pine cones when I read the headline. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 IMO "if" leathers are safer and offer more protection ( I am not saying they do) then prehaps the extra cost would be worth it against the present race suits.Would the leathers last longer( I know that riders have team ones in some cases and may move about more these days) but IMO as with helmets they should offer the best protection possible.i have heard that leathers are heavier and more awkward to ride in but I am sure riders could adapt .Also if the rider wishes to he may be able to wear a oversuit to resemble the present race suits to be covered in sponsorship and personalised to their own tastes. I don't see any problem 'adapting' they had NO choice years ago. Leather was the only material available for long enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Think the biggest issue is riders doing so many meetings now that getting a set of kevlars clean and dry via the washing machine is more practical than leathers which are a pain to maintain. The protection thing isn't so cut and dried as with kevlars riders wear a very good undersuit with built in armour where under leathers it used to be a minimal back protector. Seems to me there is an increased risk of abrasion injuries but they are probably at least as well protected for everything else. Having said that I wear leathers because I 'feel' better protected but that is a personal preference and I never ride several times a week. My opinion is that the riders are in the best position to decide on what protective clothing they wear and should be allowed to make that decision. The silencers was always going to happen and doubtless will happen again before too long. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewrunagall Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 I did hear a while ago that a former SGP rider was complaining that one of the reasons that the FIM want everyone to wear leathers is because Armando Castagna (who is one of the officials in the Grands Prix these days) owns a large stake in a leather company in Italy and that he's pretty much doing the same as Briggs with the whole dirt deflector thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barncooseboy Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Armando lives across the road from a family who own a large leather company, I believe it is a family owned business and when I was last in Italy he did not own any of the company. Armando and most of his brothers own a hotel/restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffdiamond Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I don't see any problem 'adapting' they had NO choice years ago. Leather was the only material available for long enough. 'drurin the whar',,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 (edited) IMO "if" leathers are safer and offer more protection ( I am not saying they do) then prehaps the extra cost would be worth it against the present race suits.Would the leathers last longer( I know that riders have team ones in some cases and may move about more these days) but IMO as with helmets they should offer the best protection possible.i have heard that leathers are heavier and more awkward to ride in but I am sure riders could adapt .Also if the rider wishes to he may be able to wear a oversuit to resemble the present race suits to be covered in sponsorship and personalised to their own tastes. leathers are no more expensive than polyester suits , Polyester suits are easy to manufacture and cheap . but are sold as Kevlar (less than 6% ) to create the Illusion that they afford some safety and to justify the huge cost most of which is mark up , Edited April 16, 2014 by speedibee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 leathers are no more expensive than polyester suits , Polyester suits are easy to manufacture and cheap . but are sold as Kevlar (less than 6% ) to create the Illusion that they afford some safety and to justify the huge cost most of which is mark up , If that is so - it concerns me. Riding Speedway is dangerous enough without wearing 'cheap' inefficient protection. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f-s-p Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Looks like the FIM are going to change the regulations for 2015, already announced for grasstrack. All riders will have to use leather race suitrs New Spec silencers will have to be used, current ones are only licenced till end of 2014 season. And your source for the racing suit rule is?!! The silencers are "old news", its been public for probably a year now. All fim competitions (exept ice racing) are to be ridden with 2014' spec suits. They are not leather though and dont have to be. Cant see them changing it again for 2015... Then again, they do what they want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Thereis no doubt in my mind that leather offers the best protection against abrasion, meaning less burn type injuries. Leathers can get stiff, but if looked after well and they fit right can be just as comfortable. I actually found the undersuits and armour more uncomfortable than leathers with built-in armour. The regulations have always been in place for safety and holes in suits have never been allowed if they affect the integrity of the suit - temporary repairs can be made as necessary. The cost thing doesn't really apply as some leather suits are cheaper than 'kevlar' and also the cost of the undergarments/armour is really quite high. For top riders, new silencers won't add to costs either as most of them throw out/sell equipment and replace with new every year - why I have no idea. Plenty of expense can be saved if they want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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