ARAI’S RIDERS GET READY FOR PHILLIP ISLAND WSBK SEASON OPENER

A strong Arai line-up looks set to battle for WSBK title.......

The waiting is finally over and the World Superbike season roars into action this weekend with racing in Australia at the legendary Phillip Island 4.5km circuit.

Arai has an impressive line-up of riders in the 2012 series, including Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, Hiroshi Aoyama, John Hopkins, Jakub Smrz and Davide Giugliano all wearing Arai’s benchmark RX-7GP and all raring to go!

Leon Haslam 2012 design

BMW's Leon Haslam, supporting a brand new design on his Arai RX-7GP and celebrating 25 years of wearing Arai, concluded last week’s three day test at Phillip Island finishing third on the final day and reported the S1000RR to be the best it had felt in all his time with BMW.  Unfortunately on this week’s official test Leon crashed exiting the last corner and has been diagnosed with a fractured right tibia and this may affect his participation in the weekend’s WSBK opening round.

Jonathan Rea design

Two more Arai stars Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama team up this year and lead the charge for the Honda World Superbike team. Rea starts his fourth season on the Fireblade and, following an injury-blighted 2011, the 24-year-old is looking forward to a consistent title challenge this year. Japanese ace Hiroshi Aoyama, the 2009 World 250cc champion, joins the team following two years as a Honda MotoGP rider. 

Hiroshi Aoyama design

Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider John Hopkins, who provided a thrilling finale to last year’s British Superbike series, will miss the first race due to a broken hand sustained in a high side crash last week. Drafted in for John is Australian rider Josh Brookes who has been racing in BSB for the last couple of years and has previously raced in both the World Superbike and Supersport championships.   
  
Czech rider Jakub Smrz, who had his fair share of bad luck in 2011, stays with Liberty Racing Team Effenbert for the 2012 season and making the move to WSBK is Davide Giugliano who partners the 2011 championship winner Carlos Checa in the Althea Racing team.

In World Supersport, Arai will support numerous riders including Broc Parkes who finished 4th last year and switches team and bikes to ride for Ten Kate Racing Products on the Honda CBR600RR.

All of Arai’s riders will once again be wearing the Arai RX-7GP, a helmet considered by many as the benchmark against which others are measured.  Featuring a peripherally belted Structural Net Compose (SNC) shell, with hyper ridge strengthening in its lower section, a wider aperture with larger visor for better vision and a five position Air Wing to reduce drag, turbulence and buffering, the RX-7GP is the most technologically advanced motorcycle helmet Arai has ever produced and easily surpasses ECE 22.05 and was the first helmet to meet the new Snell M2012 standard.

For more information on the Arai range telephone 01782 569800 or visit www.whyarai.co.uk

ARAI'S 'NITRO NORI' HAGA FIRED UP FOR MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SWAN YAMAHA

We're delighted that Arai rider Nori Haga is coming to BSB. The OFFICIAL anouncement happened today, putting an end to the rumours...

The Swan Yamaha team has today (Monday) confirmed that World Superbike sensation Noriyuki Haga will be completing their line-up for the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he permanently replaces the injured Ian Hutchinson for the forthcoming season.

One of our Haga Replicas

Fans’ favourite Haga is famous for his flamboyant riding style with much of his World Championship success in the past powered by Yamaha. Japanese ace Haga joins the MCE BSB Championship with the Swan Yamaha team following a record of 43 race wins in the World Championship, finishing runner-up in the title race on three occasions (2009, 2007, 2000) and securing third in the overall standings in an additional four seasons (2008, 2006, 2005, 2004).

Haga has already celebrated success on MCE BSB Championship circuits at World level including podium finishes at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Silverstone and Assen as the Japanese contender prepares for his first full season in MCE BSB which gets underway at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (6-9 April).

And another of our Haga replicas

Haga said: “It is a new challenge for me to race in BSB and I am now ready for the new season with Swan Yamaha. I feel that after many years in the same series this will be a kind of restart to my racing career. BSB has grown a lot and I have big support from the fans in the UK, so I liked the idea of racing in the Championship. It will also be a return to Yamaha, where I spent so many years taking many wins and now I feel like I am going back to my family. I have won races with Yamaha before in the World Championship and now I hope that we can do it again in BSB. I don't know several circuits in England and the BSB Championship but I will do my best to get results this year for the fans, myself and for Yamaha. We will start testing soon and I am very excited to get back on track as we have big ambitions for this season. Finally I hope that Ian Hutchinson can recover soon from his injury.”

Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “It was a difficult situation for the Swan Yamaha team when Ian (Hutchinson) was sidelined with just four weeks remaining before we begin our pre-season testing programme. We then had to set out to find a replacement rider and the result for us could not have been better. We are absolutely delighted that Noriyuki will be joining us and we are now looking forward to welcoming him into the team. Noriyuki has such vast experience of racing a Superbike and during his career has always had a strong partnership with Yamaha and we are happy that we can continue that relationship this year. The Swan Yamaha team won the title last season and Noriyuki is really ready for the challenge of BSB and is coming to race here to win.”

Swan Marketing Manager Mark Alldred concluded: “We are thrilled to confirm the full team line up for the 2012 season after Ian’s unfortunate injury. We are delighted to welcome Noriyuki Haga to the team at this late stage. He has a fantastic pedigree at the highest level and will be a real contender for the championship this year. We have a great rider line-up at Swan Yamaha having signed two of the top riders in the championship. We wish them both the best of luck for the forthcoming season.”

Good luck to Nori from all at Arai. For more information on Arai helmets in the UK and to find your nearest dealer please visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

NEW ARAI AXCES II NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK

Packed with Arai’s class-leading features...

The Arai Axces helmet arrived in 2010 and proved an instant, and consistent, hit offering as it did all the hallmarks of premium Arai quality, innovation and fit matched to a great retail price point. It opened the brand up to many riders who aspired to own an Arai, and was given the Value Award in the November 2011 RiDE Magazine Awards issue.

Axces II Classic Star

Debuted to the motorcycling public at Motorcycle Live back in November 2011, the new Arai Axces II builds firmly on the success of the original. Its features and benefits have evolved, and it remains attractively priced. It is now in stock and can be found in Arai Five Star dealers up and down the country.

The Axces II’s new Super Fibre Construction (SFC) outer shell has been re-designed with an enlarged aperture and SAI visor giving better peripheral vision. It uses Arai’s Hyper Ridge reinforcement around the helmet’s lower section, just as the MotoGP-spec RX-7 GP does, combined with a triple density inner shell.

Axces II Triubte

The sophisticated ventilation system has new-style front and rear Air Conductor vents, plus a three-position chin vent with larger intake holes, plus the usual brow vents in the visor. An extra top vent is available as an option. Arai’s lever release visor system ensures swift and tool-free visor removal and replacement in seconds, and its holders are aerodynamically recessed. The 2mm visor is Pinlock® ready and features a de-misting visor lock position.

Axces II Stage

The new luxury fixed inner liner features removable cheekpads, which are available in several thicknesses to create a custom fit. As used in all Arai helmets, the ‘Double D’ ring fastening system ensures correct strap tension at all times.

The Axces II is available in a wide range of designs and plain colours with sizes ranging from XS–XXL and an RRP of £349.99 for plain colours and £449.99 for designs.  For more information on the Axces II, or the rest of the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

The Arai Difference

Without exception all Arai helmets offer a peerless fit; the Japanese brand’s reputation for quality, comfort and safety has recently been further reinforced as, for the 13th consecutive year, Arai came out top of the JD Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study.