Seeing the design that Arai has come up with for the IoMTT races each year feels similar to when your Christmas tree goes up. The butterflies in your belly awaken, and you know that good times are just around the corner. This year is no different.
The 16th exclusive design produced by Arai for the Isle of Man TT (IoMTT) is based around the RX-7V EVO, which is by far the most popular helmet worn by road racers around the TT.
Although we don't see this model used as widely in organizations like MotoGP or WSBK, Arai's top-spec lid is what most riders want to protect themselves around arguably the most dangerous road race in the world, and this stretches all the way back to the late, great Joey Dunlop.
These helmets are fast becoming collectors' items, and given how this latest edition is styled, I can't see it staying in stock for long.
It features striking blocks of orange, blue, and white that match the TT’s new color scheme that launched in 2024. The blocks radiate outward from the double TT logo on the sides, which is a design pattern we've never seen before, and is supposed to give the impression of motion. The Triskelion, known as the Three Legs of Man, features on the top of the helmet, as we've seen on many other iterations.
The iconic Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man in Manx) text is present with a new Limited Edition logo, and black and white panels, which create a subtle chequered flag motif and complete this latest TT exclusive.
Personally, I'd have loved to have seen a tribute to Michael Dunlop's record-breaking 29th TT victory last year, especially considering that his uncle, Joey, was the first rider, along with Brian Reid, to wear an Arai lid around the mountain course 41 years ago. But I'll happily settle for this design.
