If you happen to’re a bike rider heading to the 2025 Dakar Rally with a SNELL M2015-certified helmet, cherish how its contours suit your head since you received’t be capable to relive that feeling in 2026.
Because the FIM enters its subsequent section of homologating a uniform helmet line referred to as FRHPhe-02, 2025 would be the remaining 12 months that different fashions can be utilized in off-road collection just like the World Rally-Raid Championship, FIM Bajas World Cup, and Sand Races World Cup. Sure off-road disciplines like Trial, pedelec electrical bikes, side-by-side automobiles (which typically fall underneath FIA jurisdiction although the FIM additionally oversees some at Bajas), and people making an attempt land pace data are exempt.
FRHPhe-02 is the second stage of the FIM’s standardised helmet-making course of; FRHPhe is an acronym standing for “FIM Racing Homologation Programme for Helmets”. The primary, named FRHPhe-01, started in June 2019 for MotoGP earlier than increasing to all circuit racing collection firstly of 2020. The second section launched in November 2022 to give attention to off-road disciplines like rally and motocross.
The primary FRHPhe-02 helmets turned obtainable for purchasers in 2024 and can be “strongly beneficial” in 2025 earlier than changing into obligatory for 2026 onwards. 6D Helmets and LS2 Helmets are the authorized producers for off-road thus far, with the previous presenting the ATR-3 mannequin whereas the latter has the X-Drive Professional; Arai Helmet‘s RX-7V FIM Racing #2 is the section two helmet for circuit disciplines. The X-Drive was the primary off-road helmet to be homologated, reaching the designation in November 2023, earlier than the ATR-3 did so in mid-July.
“As our helmet has turn out to be increasingly identified worldwide for its security expertise and distinctive efficiency report, it was necessary that we’re ready for 2026 with the third era of our ATR off-road competitors helmet,” stated 6D Helmets CEO Bob Weber. “We applaud the FIM for its efforts in requiring safer helmets for its individuals and stay up for working extra carefully with the worldwide market sooner or later.”
Presently, rally raiders are additionally permitted to make use of helmets which have Financial Neighborhood of Europe grade 22.06, Japanese JIS T 8133, and SNELL certifications. Rally2, Rally3, and Quad riders have barely extra lenience for 2025 as they’re novice classes in contrast to the factory-based RallyGP.
FRHPhe-02 requirements are naturally extra stringent than its predecessors, having to satisfy worldwide requirements after being topic to numerous assessments. One analysis entails throwing the helmet towards various kinds of anvils and gauging the injury to between 9 and 13 of twenty-two marked areas on the helmet. In the wrong way, sharp objects are additionally launched at ther helmet to see if they’ll penetrate the shell. Different assessments embrace seeing how straightforward it’s to take away the cheek pads and the usage of mathematical formulation to calculate the chance of cranium fracture and mind harm.
“Being the primary helmet producer to get the FIM homologation underneath the FRHPhe-02, for a pure MX helmet as our MX 703-1, exhibits our dedication to the FIM’s evolution of this programme and our plans for the approaching future, which is to turn out to be a high participant within the MX world too,” commented LS2 Helmets CEO Giuseppe Porcu. “Congratulations to our R&D division and an enormous thanks to FIM.”
The 2025 Dakar Rally begins on 3 January.
