American Flat Track (AFT) today took two important steps in the interest of promoting rider safety with the announcement of long-term, strategic partnerships with Dainese, the leaders in dynamic protective gear, and AGV Helmets, engineers of headgear safety technology. The Italian companies will bring safety innovations gained from their experience in MotoGP and other forms of road racing to the sport of Pro Flat Track competition.

“We are proud to be associated with both Dainese and AGV,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. “The primary objective of both of these world-class Italian brands aligns with the goals of American Flat Track – preserving the safety and maximizing the performance capability of our athletes. We look forward to working with them in promoting innovation and developing cutting edge safety technologies for our sport.”

Dainese, recognized as the Official Motorcycle Safety and Race Apparel of American Flat Track, will work with AFT riders and teams to develop leather racing suits tailored specifically for the demands of Flat Track racing. In addition to suit development, the Italian brand is also constructing the next generation of safety steel shoes for AFT competition.

“The Dainese leathers are the best in the world – that’s why multi-time World Champion Valentino Rossi wears them,” said defending AFT Grand National Champion Bryan Smith and a member of the Indian Wrecking Crew. “They’re new to Flat Track, and it’s great to have them join my team with the No. 1 plate and start at the top – where Dainese belongs.”

AGV, named the Official Helmet of American Flat Track, will also partner with riders to develop innovations in helmet technology specifically for the sport. As an example, the creation of a sealing mechanism to keep dirt outside of the helmet will greatly improve the visibility and comfort of AFT Twins and AFT Singles competitors.

“I wear AGV helmets, and their Carbon Pista helmet is incredible,” said Brad Baker, a two-time Grand National Champion and another member of the Indian Wrecking Crew. “It’s as light as a feather, very aerodynamic and gives great protection. Rossi, Andrea Iannone and a bunch of other guys all trust AGV to protect their heads. The quality of the helmet is amazing.”

Dainese and AGV have a rich history in the world’s premier road racing championship – MotoGP – that has expanded beyond motorcycle racing. Innovative technology like Dainese’s D-Air® riding suit, an intelligent protection system that deploys an airbag around a rider’s body, has moved beyond the race track to everyday use on the street. Their technology has also been used to protect professional skiers, America’s Cup sailors and even astronauts in space, with the Dainese BioSuit. AGV similarly has taken its technology from the race track to the consumers with products like the Pista GP, which was developed in conjunction with Rossi.

“Racing is part of our DNA at Dainese and we are looking forward to expanding our safety technologies and exploring new ways to protect riders in the American Flat Track series. The popularity of Flat track continues to grow in North America and we are excited to be part of the sport’s growth.” said Roberto Sadowsky, Executive VP of Dainese USA Inc.

For more information about Dainese, visit their website at http://www.dainese.com/us/en/home/. To learn more about AGV Helmets, please visit http://www.agv.com/row/en/home/.