NECK'S BIG THING

Top kit firm Alpinestars has unveilled its latest research project - the ACR (Alpinestars Cervical Road/race) neck protector. Designed to limit the movement of a rider's head during a crash, and thus minimise the chances of neck and back injury, the new protector was shown at the Jerez GP, on Red Bull Rookie rider JD Beach during practice. It currently fits inside the hump of an Alpinestars suit via a special bracket, although standalone versions may be available in the future. An offroad version is also being developed. The ACR works by limiting the movement of the head forward and backwards, preventing the hyperextension of the neck that causes paralysing injuries. There's no timescale for a commercial release of the ACR as yet, but watch this space for more news as it arrives.