DAINESE INVESTS IN 2011 RACING TALENT

[totalmotorcycle]

DAINESE INVESTS IN 2011 RACING TALENT


The 2011 race season is fast approaching with the World Superbike Championship kicking off in Australia this weekend. Italian leathers giant Dainese is investing in a whole host of talent in 2011.


Dainese will continue its support of reining World Superbike champion Max Biaggi as he fights to keep his title-crown firmly in place. Other riders under the Dainese banner in SBK include Joan Lascorz, Mark Aitchinson, Maxime Berger, Tom Sykes and popular Brit Leon Haslam, who makes a return to Dainese for the forthcoming season.



Nine-time MotoGP world champion and Dainese ambassador Valentino Rossi will be wearing red leathers this year following his move to Ducati. Rossi’s new team mate and former world champion Nicky Hayden will also be Dainese-backed for the first time in his career. Rossi and Hayden will be joined on the grid by fellow Dainese-protected Marco Simoncelli.



In Moto2 Dainese is supporting six riders in total including Pol Espargaró, who has moved up from 125cc after finishing third in 2010. Other riders in Moto2 include Simone Corsi, Mattia Pasini, Ratthapark Wilairot and Stefan Bradl. In the 125cc class Dainese will support Luis Salom, Sergio Gadea, Alessandro Tonucci, Luigi Morciano and Niklas Ayo. The MotoGP championship kicks off at the Losail Circuit in Qatar on 20 March.



The Italian company has continued its investment in lovable rogue Guy Martin for his 2011 assault on the roads and British Superstock Championship. His Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team mate and British Superbike contender Josh Brookes has also been snapped up by Dainese. Brookes heads to Spain for the opening test of the year at Cartagena from 3-6 March ahead of the first race on 25 April at Brands Hatch.



Selected riders will be continuing to help develop and test D-Air Racing – Dainese’s revolutionary airbag system. The invaluable feedback from the supported riders is vital for the development of the system, which is due to launch in the UK in late Spring. D-Air Racing is a world first in airbag technology as unlike many of its rivals is not connected to the motorcycle. The device works on clever telemetry that reads track conditions and recognises when a bike starts to slide. The airbag is deployed within 45 milliseconds and takes 10 seconds to deflate, so the rider can remount and continue to race. For more information visit: www.dainese.com



Supported riders wearing D-Air Racing include:

MotoGP:

Valentino Rossi | Nicky Hayden | Marco Simoncelli



Moto2:

Pol Espargaró | Stefan Bradl | Mattia Pasini | Simone Corsi



SBK:

Max Biaggi | Leon Haslam



Leon Haslam, World Superbike Championship

"I'm very happy to be rejoining Dainese. Having visited the Dainese headquarters it's clear that the heritage of motorcycle racing and safety protection is synonymous with the Dainese name. I'm also very much looking forward to having the D-Air technology - I just hope I don't need it!"




Nicky Hayden, MotoGP


“I know Dainese has a long history, you know a couple fast guys have worn Dainese in their life. I’ve tried the leathers, I’ve been to the factory, seen all the technology before I made the decision to go that way. I’ve seen the products, seen the science that goes into it, and I’m on board.”



AGV is investing alongside Dainese to provide head-to-toe protection for selected riders. Under the banner of Italian Legendary Protection both iconic brands join to create 'ILP' and provide the ultimate in head-to-toe protection. The two brands are also supporting a host of riders in off-road championships and riders throughout Europe in their selected championships. For a full list of Dainese and AGV riders please click here.



TV coverage of the World Superbike and British Superbike Championships will once again be aired on Eurosport. MotoGP will be shown on the BBC and the red button.



World Superbike Championship

27 February
Phillip Island, Australia

27 March
Donington Park, UK (Europe)

17 April
Assen, Netherlands

8 May
Monza, Italy

30 May
Miller Motorsports Park, USA

12 June
Misano Adriatico, San Marino

19 June
Motorland Aragon, Spain

10 July
Brno, Czech Republic

31 July
Silverstone, UK

4 September
Nurburgring, Germany

25 September
Imola, Italy

2 October
Magny-Cours, France

16 October
Portimao, Portugal




MotoGP

20 March
Losail, Qatar

3 April
Jerez, Spain

24 April
Motegi, Japan

1 May
Estoril, Portugal

15 May
Le Mans, France

5 June
Catalunya, Spain

12 June
Silverstone, Great Britain

25 June
Assen, Netherlands

3 July
Mugello, Italy

17 July
Sachsenring, Germany

24 July
Laguna Seca, United States

14 August
Brno, Czech Republic

28 August
Indianapolis, USA

4 September
Misano, San Marino

18 September
Aragón, Spain

16 October
Phillip Island, Australia

23 October
Sepang, Malaysia

6 November
Valencia, Spain





British Superbike Championship

25 April
Brands Hatch Indy

2 May
Oulton Park

15 May
Croft

20 May
Thruxton

19 June
Knockhill

3 July
Snetterton

17 July
Oulton Park

7 August
Brands Hatch GP

29 August
Cadwell

11 September
Donington Park

25 September
Silverstone

9 October
Brands Hatch GP