Alpinestars
Alpinestars is one of the worlds biggest motorcycling brands and has a huge range of top quality protective products.
Founded in 1963 by Sante Mazzarolo in Asolo, Italy, Alpinestars started out making hiking and ski boots, but quickly shifted its focus to making boots for motocross racing, and road racing boots shortly thereafter.
The company's name comes from the English translation of the Italian mountain flower Stella Alpina (Edelweiss), which grows high in the mountains around the area where the company was founded. They sponsored motorsport world champions such as Kenny Roberts, Mick Doohan and Marc Marquez. During the 1990s the company branched out into manufacturing all types of technical protective gear for motorcycling such as gloves, jackets and full leather one piece suits.
The company has been headed by Sante's son, Gabriele Mazzarolo, since 1993. There are offices in Los Angeles and Tokyo while the original headquarters and main research & development facility remain in Northern Italy.
Alpinestars leather suits and protective gear are worn by MotoGP World Champions Marc Marquez, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and World Superbike ChampionsBen Spies and Troy Corser. Alpinestars' motocross gear is used by several AMA and World Motocross champions.
In 2011 Alpinestars developed the Tech Air Race System, an electronic airbag safety system that uses a data logging unit and dual charge inflation module. It was used in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships and was intended to eventually be worn by street riders. In June 2013 Marc Marquez crashed at a speed of around 337 km/h (209 mph) while wearing the airbag suit and did not sustain serious injuries.
Alpinestars developed flame and heat retardant Nomex suits, footwear, gloves, and underwear for Formula One and NASCAR, which has been worn by many recent champions.