'New' foldable back protector wins award 10 years after Knox

"THE Soul Race MF Bender foldable back protector has won the prestigious Italian Young Designer of the Year award for Manuel Franzan of Franzan Design" reports motorcycle trade magazine International Dealer News. "The back protector is made from polyurethane and can be folded in two and stored easily under the seat of the scooter or in a bag, backpack or rucksack. Last year it also won Motociclismo's 'Best Innovation for Motorcyclists' award".

Described as "The first and unique back protector bender" by the Italian manufacturers, the Soul Race MF Bender is certainly not the first foldable back protector by a long way. Ten years earlier, in 2000, British impact protection specialists KNOX unveiled the Stowaway - the world's first CE-approved foldable back protector.

Motor Cycle News was quick to recognise British safety innovation and voted it Product of the Year at the prestigious MCN Awards ceremony.

Now in its third generation and called the Kompakt, the highly successful Knox foldable back protector is exported around the world and retails in UK shops for £69.99. See the original award-winning foldable back protector at www.knox-armour.co.uk

Superstock 600 lead for Knox riders at Thruxton

Continuing its excellent start to its first season in the British Junior Superstock 600 motorcycling racing category, the new KNOX protected AP Kawasaki Racing Team came away from the second round at Thruxton on Sunday 18 April with the championship lead. Despite qualifying a lowly 12th on the grid as a result of technical problems, Matt Bilton from West Yorkshire, the team's 20-year-old star rider carved through the pack to fourth place, finishing 2^nd after Russo and Coates crashed two laps from the end. The result gives Bilton a 15-point lead in the championship. The British Superstock 600 series is one of the most hotly contested in the national motorcycle racing calendar with more than 70 young riders all keen to make their mark. The new AP Kawasaki Racing Team made a bold move by coming straight into it for 2010 with its three riders – Bilton, Freddie Russo (Brentwood, Essex) and Anthony Haywood (Chesterfield, Derbyshire).

Round 3 takes place at Oulton Park, Cheshire on 1/2/3 May 2010

Triumph for Knox at Thruxton

Knox-protected riders were busy in the supersport 600 class at Thruxton last weekend. Oxford Tag Triumph endured a testing time at the super-fast airfield circuit, but came away determined to make amends when they visit Oulton Park in two weeks time. After the two free practice sessions, both Paul Young and Jason O’Halloran looked strong, posting sub-lap record times within a tightly packed top ten. Qualifying also proved incredibly close, with the top ten covered by less than a second and Young less than half a second off the pole position in sixth place. O’Halloran was picking up the pace lap by lap but a tiny error from the 22-year-old on the exit of Allard – when he put his rear wheel on the grass – was punished with a massive highside, destroying the bike and giving the likeable Aussie a severe pummelling (luckily he was protected by Knox). As always, the race was incredibly close. Young made a scorching start from 5th on the grid having qualified with a time almost a second under the lap record and, for the first quarter of the race, looked comfortable as he matched the times of the leaders. Holding station and biding his time in a strong 5th place, his Daytona 675 suffered an unusual mechanical failure forcing him to retire from the race having posted consistent lap times well underneath James Westmoreland’s lap record from last year. Further down the field, O’Halloran was working his way through the field, battling with former Superstock 600 Champion, Lee Johnston, for much of the race, improving on his grid position and finishing in a highly creditable 10th place at the flag as the first Triumph home, reaffirming Oxford Tag Triumph’s place as the premier Triumph team in the UK.
In the Superstock 600 series, Josh Caygill on the MAP Centurion Triumph struggled during qualifying and ended up in 16^th position on the grid. However, having made a brilliant start, Josh was lying in 13^th place after the opening lap and as the freight train unveiled Josh worked extremely hard to make his way through the pack. After a few incidents and some confident passing manoeuvres Josh secured a stunning eighth position, his best this season.

New Flex Lite knee guards from Knox

Rider’s legs are the part of the body most likely to sustain an impact in a crash, according to a report by European Safer Urban Motorcycling. Yet many riders, notes eSUM, resist wearing protective clothing because of cost, inconvenience and comfort. Fortunately British impact-protection specialists Planet-Knox offers riders a simple and inexpensive solution to this problem, with new ultra lightweight knee guards in a slip-on air-mesh sleeve that can be worn under casual trousers or un-armoured motorcycle jeans. Fully CE tested and approved, each slimline Flex Lite protector weighs less than 175 grams and is tested and certified to EN1621-1, the European standard for motorcycle armour. Knox use and advanced energy-absorbent polyurethane foam, which is shaped to fit the knee and is highly flexible, for freedom of movement. The sleeves are made from a super breathable stretch aritex and the protectors are perforated for ventilation too, so day-long wear is not an issue. Quick and easy to slip on and off the knee, each protector is held securely in place by a Velcro strap and, because the Flex Lite knee guard attaches directly to the legit is held firmly in the correct position to provide maximum protection. Practically invisible when worn under jeans, Knox Flex Lite knee guards will retail for the introductory price of £29.99 per pair including VAT
Planet Knox Ltd – Tel: 01900 825 825 - web: www.knox-armour.co.uk

* Protective Equipment for Riders (March 2010) published by eSUM - European Safer Urban Motorcycling - www.esum.eu

Knox goes downhill in Ireland

Dublin's Dan Sheridan, 2008 Irish national champion in the under 14 category, has recently reviewed Knox MTB armour on his website. "I'm happy to say that I will be riding for Knox this season and will be protected by all their great armour" writes 15-year old Dan. "After having a rough season last year with lots of injuries it's great to know that I will be protected properly and hopefully have an injury free year thanks to Knox. I got all my armour last week and got the chance to test it out at the first Irish race at the weekend. I'm really happy with all the products – it's all really comfy and great protection. The Warrior BC9 is made and works very well my Leatt brace, which fits on perfectly without the need to cut up jerseys or armour, it's also highly adjustable, comfy and doesn't cause you to get all hot and stuffy. Other products I received were the Cross Guard elbow pads, Cross Lite knee pads and Cross Max knee and shin guards. It all works a treat and stays were it should". Follow Dan's progress this season at http://www.dansheridan.ie/

Ellison steps up at Brands

James Ellison's British Superbike campaign got off to a strong start at Brands Hatch last weekend, with the Cumbrian rider securing a double podium finish and taking victory in the second race of the day.
Ellison - who has used Knox body armour throughout his BSB career, and has chosen Knox Handroid gloves to help keep his 2010 campaign on track - started from tenth on the grid in the opening race, battling through the field to secure third.
In race two he got off to a storming start, leading the field to the finish and giving the Swan Honda team their first win of the season.
Ellison said: "I knew we had the pace so it was a case of keeping it smooth and consistent as there were about ten people out there that could have won the race. I wanted to get into the lead in the second race, as we moved up to the front row, and I knew we would have a good shot at the win, which is exactly what we did."
Protecting vulnerable areas, like hands and feet, is crucial for any racer as even a ‘small’ injury like a scaphoid break can put a rider out action for several weeks; loosing rider and team vital championship points.
Working closely with James, and other riders, Knox has developed a new range of motorcycle gloves, featuring a host of patented protection and safety innovations. Features include unique exoskeleton finger protection, Knox’s patented Scaphoid Protection System and the exclusive BOA lacing system.

More hot air fails to address safety concerns

"Horse industry and safety experts have reacted with caution to impact testing done on the Point Two equine air jacket" reports Horse and Hounds. Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) in Berkshire conducted impact research on an airbag jacket from one of the UK's most prominent brands. According to H&H, "The report states there is no evidence that the Point Two would exacerbate any neck injury in an accident". In other words the airbag jacket would not injure a rider. Also that the "air jacket offered improved protection when worn with a British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Level 3 body protector". So it offers some additional protection when worn with conventional body armour. However, the test did not establish what level of protection (if any) air bag jackets provide when worn WITHOUR conventional bodty armour.

BETA executive director Claire Williams said: "This report does raise more questions than answers."

Dr Roderick Woods, an expert in safety testing and standards, is quoted as saying. "The only way to test airbags is to replicate a genuine accident, record the data and compare it to an autopsy report," he said. "In cars, you drive a dummy into a wall - but with a horse it's virtually impossible because there are so many variables."

Read the full feature at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/296557.html

Knox Lab goes live

Knox, the British impact protection specialists, have launched a new interactive website dedicated to showcasing their innovation and technological breakthroughs. Knox Lab is an open resource where visitors will be able to find information on the technology behind current product lines as well as details of ongoing projects. Featuring video streaming and interactive graphics, technology comes to life in the Knox Lab. Knox Lab initially plays host to the celebrated Hand Armour range where the site invites the viewer to experience the Handroid via a dynamic video before leading to a class leading interactive animated video, previously unseen in the motorcycle market. Watch and hear the Boa lacing system close, turn a flat hand into a fist and then roll the hand over to see the palm. Showing the full Hand Armour range the site is rich with detail, images and links to stockists and product registration. Knox Lab perfectly supports the dynamic advertising campaign and in-store POS equipment to give high quality consistent brand appeal.

Knox Lab will evolve further with information on other innovative product lines follow throughout the year. Visit Knox Lab at www.knox-lab.com