The start of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand was overshadowed by an unexpected crisis centered on rider helmets. Several competitors, including factory Ducati riders Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, faced a race against time to secure certified equipment under a new, stricter safety standard.
The issue stemmed from the FIM's new 'FIMFRHPhe-02' homologation protocol, which introduced more rigorous impact tests and focused on preventing visor detachment in crashes. The stringent requirements pushed manufacturers to the limit, with some failing to have all sizes certified for the opening rounds.
The situation reached a climax for riders using helmets from brands owned by Indonesia's PT Tara Group. Although their helmets passed lab tests, the physical certification labels had to be printed at the FIM's Swiss headquarters. An employee's urgent courier flight to Thailand was nearly derailed by airspace closures in the Middle East.
As a contingency, affected riders used homologated helmets from rival brands during Friday and Saturday sessions, with designs mimicking their usual liveries to hide the substitute manufacturer. By Sunday's warm-up, the proper labels had arrived and were sewn in, allowing a return to their regular equipment.