FIM#2: understanding the new track helmet standard in 2026

Launched in 2016, the FRHPhe homologation program (FIM Racing Homologation Programme for helmets), aimed at strengthening protection requirements for riders’ helmets in competition, is entering its second phase with the new FIM2 (or FRHPhe-02) standard. Shark explains the background of this program and the new 2026 standards for MotoGP riders.

In brief:

• The FRHPhe program, launched by the FIM in 2016, aims to raise the level of safety for helmets used in motorcycle racing.

• The FIM#2 (FRHPhe-02) standard marks a new milestone with reinforced protection requirements adapted to real racing conditions.

• It becomes the reference standard for international circuit competition from 2026, notably in MotoGP.

• Helmets are now homologated by model and by size, with enhanced traceability.

• AERON GP, our FIM#2 homologated helmets

History of the FRHPhe project: when racing becomes a safety laboratory

Motorcycle racing has always played a key role in the evolution of protective equipment. But by the mid-2010s, one reality became clear: existing standards, even the strictest, were no longer sufficient to cover the real-world impacts encountered at very high speeds.

It was in this context that the FIM launched the FRHPhe program in 2016. Its objective was clear: to create a helmet homologation specifically designed for motorcycle racing, independent from road standards and based on real accident analysis.

FRHPhe-01: a first breakthrough

Phase 1 of the program, FRHPhe-01, introduced several major changes:

• higher impact speeds than ECE standards,

• tests on multiple areas of the helmet,

• homologation by model and by size.

From 2019 onwards, this standard gradually became mandatory in premier categories, including MotoGP, before being extended to other international championships.

FRHPhe-02: phase 2 of the FIM program

Research did not stop there. Data collected in racing, advances in materials and a better understanding of head injuries (particularly rotational trauma) led the FIM to go further.

The result: phase 2 of the program, officially introduced with the FRHPhe-02 standard, also known as FIM#2.

What the FRHPhe-02 standard changes for riders in competition from 2026

From January 1st, 2026, the FRHPhe-02 standard becomes the mandatory reference for international circuit competitions. For riders, this means a helmet even closer to real racing constraints.

Tests closer to real-life conditions

FIM2 reinforces several key aspects:

• Oblique impacts to measure rotational accelerations, now recognized as a major factor in concussions.

• Higher impact energies, consistent with MotoGP speeds.

• Multiple impacts, including on the same area.

• Environmental tests (heat, UV, humidity, aging).

The goal is not only to prevent fractures, but also to reduce severe brain injuries.

Even stricter homologation

With FIM#2:

• each helmet size is tested separately,

• each model appears on an official FIM list,

• a specific marking on the chin strap allows immediate checks during competition.

For MotoGP riders, this means one thing: the helmet becomes a performance component as much as a protective one, designed to withstand the most extreme scenarios.

Standards applicable in circuit competition

What FIM#2 could bring to the helmet market

Although the FRHPhe-02 standard is designed for competition, its impact goes far beyond the paddock.

Racing as a technological accelerator

Historically, many innovations from racing have become mainstream:

• multi-density structures,

• carbon fibers and advanced composites,

• optimized energy dissipation.

FIM#2 pushes manufacturers to explore new shell architectures, new EPS solutions and new rotational management systems, which can later inspire road and track helmets.

Towards a convergence of standards?

Even though FIM#2 is not intended for road use, it creates a new performance benchmark. In the long term, some of its requirements could influence future consumer standards, as racing has done in the past.

For everyday riders, this means:

• more protective helmets,

• better understanding of impact mechanisms,

• higher demands for traceability and quality.

Differences between competition and everyday standards

With the FRHPhe-02 standard, the FIM takes a new step forward in protecting elite riders. More than a regulatory evolution, FIM#2 embodies a vision: using racing as a field of innovation to push safety limits.

At Shark, this philosophy reflects a strong belief: every advancement made for elite riders ultimately helps improve protection for all motorcyclists.

Shark and FIM#2: racing commitment serving safety

At Shark, racing is not a marketing platform—it is a development laboratory where every constraint becomes an opportunity for innovation. The arrival of the FIM#2 (FRHPhe-02) standard naturally fits into this philosophy, extending the brand’s long-standing commitment at the highest level of motorcycle racing.

By fully embracing this approach, Shark affirms a strong conviction:
the future of motorcycle helmets is built where requirements are at their highest, and every step forward in competition brings us closer to ever-greater protection for everyone.

Discover our AERON GP FIM RACING#2 helmets, FIM2 homologated.