When you’re a motorbike rider heading to the 2025 Dakar Rally with a SNELL M2015-certified helmet, cherish how its contours suit your head since you gained’t have the ability to relive that feeling in 2026.
Because the FIM enters its subsequent part of homologating a uniform helmet line referred to as FRHPhe-02, 2025 would be the closing 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 trying land pace information 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 part launched in November 2022 to give attention to off-road disciplines like rally and motocross.
The primary FRHPhe-02 helmets turned accessible for purchasers in 2024 and will probably be “strongly beneficial” in 2025 earlier than changing into obligatory for 2026 onwards. 6D Helmets and LS2 Helmets are the accepted 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 part 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 more recognized worldwide for its security know-how and distinctive efficiency document, it was vital that we’re ready for 2026 with the third era of our ATR off-road competitors helmet,” mentioned 6D Helmets CEO Bob Weber. “We applaud the FIM for its efforts in requiring safer helmets for its contributors and look ahead to working extra carefully with the worldwide market sooner or later.”
Presently, rally raiders are additionally permitted to make use of helmets which have Financial Group 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 newbie classes not like the factory-based RallyGP.
FRHPhe-02 requirements are naturally extra stringent than its predecessors, having to fulfill worldwide requirements after being topic to numerous checks. 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 will penetrate the shell. Different checks embody seeing how straightforward it’s to take away the cheek pads and using 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, reveals 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 prime participant within the MX world too,” commented LS2 Helmets CEO Giuseppe Porcu. “Congratulations to our R&D division and a giant thanks to FIM.”
The 2025 Dakar Rally begins on 3 January.
