Spidi Cooler—Gibernau Stays Cool

As he was racing to the win in the Qatar MotoGP round this weekend, Sete Gibernau enjoyed the benefits of Spidi's AIS Intercooler, designed to combat the intense heat of the Middle East. Described in a Spidi press release as "a new anatomic cooling system developed for motorcycling," the AIS (Anatomic Intercooler System) is a type of vest that is worn under the leathers, and which utilizes a battery-powered micropump to circulate icy gel (less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit) around the rider's upper body. The pump is located in the back hump of Gibernau's leathers, and the gel travels in serpentine channels that are incorporated into the vest.

"By far, the most difficult thing was to integrate all the AIS vital components together with the anatomy of the suit, because we could just not compromise on the original safety and fitting of Sete's suit," said Spidi racing chief developer Lorenzo Faggionato, in the press release. "It's been tough, but in the end I can say we are really satisfied with the result."

In addition, Gibernau was able to remain hydrated while on the track, thanks to a bladder that was also incorporated into his leathers' hump. The energy drink that the bladder contained was transferred to Gibernau's mouth via a tube that was connected to his helmet. Gibernau used this hydration system at last year's Sepang MotoGP round, and one would expect him to use both it and the new AIS in Sepang next weekend.

The release did not mention whether Spidi plans to eventually offer either of these systems to the public, but the AIS vest does seem to have a market-friendly, finished appearance.

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