Laps with Pros and the New Arai Corsair-X Race Helmet: VIDEO

Arai Helmets set-up a track day at Thunderhill Raceway to give both journalists and pro racers the chance to test Arai Corsair-X on a real race course.

Jul 30, 2015 at 8:36am ET

4 min read

EVEN TWO-UP, GEICO SUZUKI, SUPERBIKE PRO, Chris Ulrich is WAY Faster than Me

Following the WorldSBK Race at Mazda Speedway Laguna Seca earlier this July, Arai held a press launch for their new flagship helmet, the Corsair-X.

Assembling a group of journalists, Pro-motorcycle racers, distributors and VIPs, Arai set-up a track day at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California and giving everyone in attendance the chance to test out their new top-of-the-line racing motorcycle helmet on a real race course.

READ MORE: On-Board Video: How to Get Around Laguna Seca Raceway, on Jake Lewis' Superbike | RideApart

Here's a compilation of a couple laps I made around the track at Thunderhill wearing the brand new Arai Corsair-X—just like the pros wear. Let's see if wearing it makes me fast like them:

To up the ante, Ducati was at the launch event with a fleet of new 899 Panigale's and Pirelli was on hand to supply Diablo Corsa tires and support for the day.

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Doing Laps with Pros and the New Arai Corsair-X Race Helmet

And if all that wasn't good enough, Alpinestars was also there with a truck full of race gear available for anyone who may have forgotten their kit at home.

It's no coincidence that many top professional motorcycle racers wear Corsair helmets. When it comes to safety and protection, Arai helmets are some of the best available for both professionals and the rest of us.

Hot on the heels of the Laguna Seca WorldSBK and MotoAmerica races that took place earlier that weekend, a number of big-name pros made their way to the Arai event to pick up their very own Corsair-X.

At Thunderhill Raceway was Laguna Seca winner and four-time AMA Superbike champ, Josh Hayes. Also on hand were Superbike pros Elena Myres and Chris Ulrich, as well as Superstock 1000 Pro, Josh Day.

While getting to spend time in the company of pro racers is in itself a privilege, getting to share track time with the truly fast is another thing entirely. While I'm accustomed to to getting passed at races, there's something extra special about a being left in the dust by a professional racer who's carrying a passenger. Or blowing past you while doing a 140 mph wheelie down the front straight. Or coming around you on the outside of a turn while backing the rear wheel through at north of 100 mph.

READ MORE: 5 Helmets You Need to Consider | RideApart

We'll have a full review of the Arai Corsair-X Race Helmet posted soon, but suffice to say, the X has managed to improve on its predecessor, the Corsair-V in almost every way.