Lorenzo to defend world title with new helmet

Jorge Lorenzo’s shark-fin hand gesture at the Misano round of the 2015 MotoGP world championship may have had more meaning than we initially thought with the MotoGP world champ signing a new three-year deal with French helmet manufacturer Shark.

The switch comes after the Spaniard suffered two helmet issues during the 2015 season, which were both attributed at the time to him finishing off the podium. The first came during the opening race in Qatar where the lining became dislodged and dropped to hinder the Majorcan rider’s vision.

The second was at the very wet British GP where Lorenzo opted not use a breath guard which resulted in severe fogging of his visor and another subsequent fourth-place finish.

Despite Lorenzo admitting he didn’t have the pace to fight for the win, he thought a podium was within reach. “[But] I completely lost my vision because the visor was foggy,” he said at the time.

The chairman of Shark Helmets Patrick Francois said he’s confident Shark helmets will meet the MotoGP world champion’s expectations and says he hopes his feedback will have a positive knock on effect on the brand’s products.

“We are very proud of the trust that Jorge Lorenzo has placed in our brand and in our helmets by joining the Shark Racing Team for the forthcoming seasons of MotoGP,” Francois said. “Having the chance to work with such a high-level experienced rider is a real opportunity for our brand, as his skills will enable us to push back the technical boundaries of our products.

“Jorge is aware that thanks to our leading position in the market for motorcycle equipment, we will be applying all our knowhow and expertise to every race in order to support him and fulfil all his expectations. We are certain that the quality of our products will meet with his full satisfaction and that this partnership will lead us all onward to resounding victories during the seasons to come."