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.