If you're considering buying a new helmet or purchasing one for the first time, then visit SHARP at the 2009 Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, Birmingham NEC from 26 November to 6 December. The team will be on hand to explain the protective qualities you need in a helmet, the rigorous testing we carry out, the star ratings for UK sold helmets and what you need to do to ensure you get the best comfort and fit. We will also have an updated list of helmet ratings and will be available to address any queries you may have about SHARP - the helmet safety scheme. For more information on the Show please visit: www.motorcycleshow.co.uk We look forward to seeing you in Hall 2 Stand No 2H30

A further 25 helmet ratings are released today, taking the total number of SHARP ratings published to 150:

[5*] AGV GP TECH
[5*] Shark RSR2 Carbon
[5*] Bell M4R Carbon
[5*] Bell M5X Carbon

[4*] AGV K4
[4*] Airoh SV55 S
[4*] Dainese Performance
[4*] Harley Davidson FXRG
[4*] Shark RSF3
[4*] Nolan X802

[3*] Arai Chaser
[3*] Box FX 1
[3*] HJC FS Max
[3*] HJC IS Max
[3*] Nitro N510v
[3*] Scorpion EXO 450
[3*] Airoh Force
[3*] Vemar Jiano

[2*] Dainese D181
[2*] Nitro N1000v

[1*] Arashi Daytona
[1*] Dainese Airstream
[1*] Harley Davidson Laguna II
[1*] NZI Convert III
[1*] RST Fusion

Please see the ratings page for more information on each helmet.

New SHARP ratings have been published today for the following helmets:

[5*] Bell M5X
[5*] Marushin Samura
[5*] Nitro N1700 VF
[5*] Shark RSX

[4*] AGV K3
[4*] Box BX5 Hurricane
[4*] Duchinni D701
[4*] Kawasaki Ninja
[4*] KBC XP3
[4*] Marushin Ikusa
[4*] Marushin Shivan
[4*] Nuvo SP2
[4*] Shark S650
[4*] X-Lite X1002

[3*] Arashi Galaxy
[3*] Arashi Sonic
[3*] Arashi Turbo
[3*] Givi HPS40.1
[3*] HJC FS 10 Carbon
[3*] Vemar VXP
[3*] Nitro F347VN

[2*] Box BX3 Dagger
[2*] Vemar VTXE
[2*] Marushin M401

[1*] KBC Magnum
[1*] KBC TK8
[1*] RST PC1S
[1*] Vemar VSSEV

See the ratings page for more information on each helmet.

Buying a new helmet at the show this weekend?

If you are then be sure to pick up your free show guide or one of the SHARP leaflets, which contains everything you need to make sure you get the best fitting, most comfortable and safest helmet for you. And SHARP are at the show on stand N11 to answer any queries you may have.

Remember: Fit, Comfort, Safety!

Come and visit SHARP at the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show between 28 November and 7 December.
Enter our competition to win your choice of jacket, trousers and gloves from the 2009 RICHA range and any pair of TCX branded boots.
We will also have details of the new system (flip front) helmet ratings, in addition to the current full face ratings and our staff will be on hand throughout the Show to address any queries you may have about SHARP - the helmet safety scheme.

For more information on the Show please visit: www.motorcycleshow.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you at the Show, stand 2G05 in Hall 2!

Safety ratings for the most popular flip-front motorcycle helmets were announced today by SHARP, the Department for Transport’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme. The 20 helmets are the first flip-front models to be rated under the scheme and bring the total number of helmets assessed by SHARP – which launched in June 2008 after research showed it could save 50 lives a year – to 96.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “Motorcyclists are the single most vulnerable group on Britain's roads today. They account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for 20% of all those killed on the roads last year. "If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. We started the SHARP scheme to ensure that all riders have the best possible independent safety information on which to base their helmet choice. That is why I delighted today to be announcing SHARP’s first set of ratings for flip-front helmets.

"Full face and flip-front helmets from across a wide price range and from a variety of manufacturers have received four or five stars - so all riders should be able to find a high-scoring helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay."
All helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash. The objective advice will help riders to choose the safest helmet suitable for them. The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%.

The new ratings were launched today at the NEC Motorcycle Show.

[5*] BMW System 5
[5*] Caberg Trip

[4*] AGV Longway
[4*] Caberg Justissimo GT
[4*] Grex RF2
[4*] Lazer Granville
[4*] Lazer Revolution
[4*] Nolan N102
[4*] Nolan N103
[4*] ROOF Boxer
[4*] Schuberth C2
[4*] Shark Evoline
[4*] Viper RS 101

[3*] G-MAC Concept
[3*] Shark Openline
[3*] Shoei Multitech
[3*] Viper RS V121

[2*] Airoh Matisse RS

[1*] Duchinni D601
[1*] KBC FFR

10:10 27/11/2008

New SHARP ratings have been published today for the following helmets:

[3*] HJC CS-12N
[2*] Schuberth R1
[1*] HJC CS-R1

Please see the ratings page for more information on each helmet.

09:30 27/11/2008

New SHARP ratings have been published today for the following helmets:

[5*] AGV S-4 Stealth
[5*] Bell M4R
[5*] Buell Turbulent
[5*] Caberg V2R
[5*] Marushin Tiger
[5*] Marushin RS1 Carbon

[4*] Duchinni D801
[4*] Lazer Vertigo

[3*] ROOF Daytona
[3*] VIPER RS 40
[3*] VIPER RS 66

[2*] Schuberth S1 Pro

[1*] KBC Force RR

See the ratings page for more information on each helmet.

15:30 31/10/2008

New ratings have been published today for the following helmets:

Grex R1
Grex RF2
Nolan N84
X-Lite X701
X-Lite X801

These models have all achieved a 4 star SHARP rating. See the ratings page for more information on each helmet.

15:30 13/06/08

Fifty lives a year could be saved by ground-breaking motorcycle helmet safety ratings revealed today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. Ratings for 56 of the most popular full face helmets on the market were published after testing by SHARP - the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme set up in a world-first by the Department for Transport last year. The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Too many motorcyclists (599 in 2006) are dying on our roads - they account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for 19% of all those killed. "But if all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. That is why we started the innovative SHARP scheme and are delighted to publish the first results today. "Helmets from across a wide price range and from a variety of manufacturers have received four or five stars - so all riders should be able to find a high-scoring helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay." All helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash. The objective advice will help riders to chose the safest helmet suitable for them.

09.30 12/06/2008

We've been very busy testing helmets since SHARP was announced in November last year and the first ratings will be announced very soon. Ratings will include helmets from AGV, Airoh, Arai, Arashi, Bell, Box, HJC, KBC, Lazer, Nitro, Nolan, Premier, Roof, RST, Shark, Shoei, Suomy, Takachi, Urban, X-Lite and Vemar.

If you do, please register at our Trade Login Area. This will give approved users access to our Trade Area, where you will find SHARP information aimed at trade users. Please register your company's details and we will keep you informed of progress. Also, you could share with us the helmet brand or models that you would like to see tested by SHARP. Just let us know what your best selling models are ...

10 lucky competition winners received VIP Hospitality passes to a British Superbike round of their choice for the 2008 season. The competition was held during the official SHARP launch at the NEC last year. The prize entitled winners to a pair of VIP Hospitality Passes giving circuit and paddock access for Qualifying Day and VIP Hospitality for Race Day. The lucky winners were: Mr W from Liverpool (Oulton Park) - Mr C from Norfolk (Snetterton) - Mr C from Cornwall (Silverstone) - Miss W from Derbyshire (Silverstone) - Mr E from Powys (Silverstone) - Mr H from Lincolnshire (Cadwell Park) - Miss H from Worcestershire (Donington Park) - Mr H from South Wales (Mallory Park) - Mr P from Essex (Brands Hatch) - Mr J from Wales (Brands Hatch) - Well done to you all and have a great time !

A pioneering new Government motorcycle helmet safety rating scheme which could save the lives of 50 riders a year was officially launched on November 22nd 2007 by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. In a world first, SHARP - the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme - will give an independent rating of how much protection a helmet can provide in an impact. Helmets will be rated from 1 to 5 stars depending how well they perform in our laboratory tests. All helmets on sale in the UK must offer the wearer a minimum level of protection, but tests show there are real differences in safety performance. SHARP's objective advice, based on rigorous testing, will help riders choose a safer helmet by measuring the extent to which a helmet exceeds the minimum standards. Speaking at the Road Safety Expo 07 in London, Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Our research indicates that even though all helmets have to reach a minimum legal standard, safety performance can vary by as much as 30%. The SHARP scheme being officially launched today will allow riders to select a safer helmet on the basis of a simple star rating system. "This is a vital step forward. Motorcyclists are one of the single most vulnerable groups on GB roads today. They account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for 20% of all those killed or seriously injured. We estimate that if all riders wore helmets that scored well in our rating system, the SHARP scheme could save up to 50 lives a year." The first SHARP results are expected to be available from late Spring, with the majority of helmets on the market tested before the end of 2008. Early results show that good performance is not restricted to premium price helmets.