Back Protectors come to be?

In the late 1970s, Brit Barry Sheene was the king of motorcycle racing, a James Hunt on two wheels.

- DemoneRosso

Sheene was the undisputed champion of ’76 and ’77, dominating the scene on and off the track, due to both his talent and his desire to always be center-stage. But notwithstanding his rebellious, rock-star image, Sheene knew the importance of safety. He was first to realize the need for progress in this field, not least because he was forever finding himself on the asphalt. Sometime before, in fact, the Brit had already had bits of foam rubber threaded into his racing suit to protect his spinal column. But that was not enough, something Lino Dainese was quick to realize. Something new and more effective was needed, something that would let Sheene sit easy in a motorcycle doing 300 kilometres an hour.

Many had been expecting the solution to come from helmet manufacturers, the ones with experience in glass fibres and plastic materials. But Dainese surprised everyone in 1979 when it came out with the first back protector. It took its form and name from a lobster’s shell. It combined a soft layer of foam rubber with a series of rigid interlocking plates, which distributed the force of hits over a wider surface. It was applied science. And it was revolutionary. No one then knew how indispensable a part of every motorcycle rider’s kit it would become in just a few years.

Proven efficiency