Not a fan of the helmets... All the countries have not only colors but a pattern... They need skunk stripes
I agree. Lets at least try to keep a little bit of tradition.
I thought the original design was all blue with just the 2 white stripes.
Edit: lifted from the ask Ping column on racer X.
Cale,
I hope you appreciate the work I did here, man. This was not an easy question to answer. I started with DC, who is our go-to moto historian. He didn't answer his phone. I called Troy Lee to see if he knew where the tradition started. He said it began back in the 1950s but he didn't know the story behind it or how it originated. Then I called Weege, who was likely thinking of ways to save more money. He directed me to Jeff Fredette, an off-road ace who has been around for decades. Jeff said they are required to run the stripes in ISDE competition but he didn't know when that began. He gave me the number to a gal at the AMA who may or may not know. At that point I took a break and wondered if all this work was really worth it for this one question. After all, I could just type out some dandy fluff and then tell you to pound sand and my work would be finished. The Walter Cronkite/Katie Couric in me just wouldn't let that happen though. I pressed on and decided to blow DC's phone up until he answered. He picked up and informed me he was in the middle of a meeting. I sheepishly asked if he could just answer my one question about where the stripes came from.
"Oh," he perked up. "That came from the FIM, who regulated that each country in International competition have a designated color. America was given the color blue but since France was also blue they required us to have the two white pinstripes on our uniforms. That became known as the "Skunk" helmet with the big, white V down the middle."
According to Fredette the stripes are still absolutely required in off-road racing where the stripes are seen as a prestigious emblem and something you have to earn. However, in motocross events, the tradition is wavering. Riders now have big-dollar deals with energy drink companies and that could be playing a part in the disappearance of the skunk helmet.
PING
Edit #2. Found this in this years ISDE rider info packet.
3. Trophy, Junior and Women’s Trophy Team and ALL Club Team member helmets MUST be painted to comply with FIM regulations. Blue with 2 white bands (para. 01.73 of the FIM Technical Rules) with the flag of the USA on the sides. The two (2) stripes used to be just off center to the right - parallel to each other, hence the term "skunk stripe". Over the years the two (2) parallel stripes turned in to a V - with the open portion of the V in the front. The blue color is a darker sky blue with two (2) - 1" white stripes in a V down the center. If you qualified for the Arai helmet program, they will come painted. USA Flag decals (provided) must be affixed to each side of your helmet. This is an FIM rule and must be respected.
Edit #3. Helmet colors for all countries listed on the FIM website.
Andorra FMA White with vertical blue, yellow and red bands
Argentina CAMOD White with blue horizontal band
Australia MA Green and yellow sides, red, white & blue representation of the Australian flag across the top
Austria OeAMTC Bright red with a 60 mm wide black band and the label of the OeAMTC in a white field on the front side
Belgium FMB Yellow
Brazil CBM Yellow and green
Bulgaria BMF Green and red
Canada CMA White and 3 Red Maple leaves, one on front and one on each side
Chile FMC Red with blue band and yellow stars
China CMSA Red and yellow
Czech Republic ACCR Blue with red, white and blue border
Denmark DMU Red and white
Finland SML White with blue cross
France FFM Blue
Germany DMSB White with black border
Great Britain ACU Green
Greece ELPA White with blue border
Hungary MAMS Red and green
Ireland MCUI Green and orange
Italy FMI Red with one green and one white horizontal band
Japan MFJ White with red circle on top
Kenya KMSF Black, Red, Green, with white bands and the country name KENYA on both sides. Luxembourg MUL Purple
Mexico FMM White with green and red border
Monaco MCM Blue and white
Netherlands KNMV Orange
New Zealand MNZ White with black kiwi on front
Norway NMF Red and blue
Peru FPEM Red with 75 mm wide white strips and blue and yellow chequered border
Poland PZM White with red band
Portugal FNM White
Rumania FRM Black with vertical blue, yellow and red bands with national emblem.
Russia MFR White with a red border and a vertical red band with star
San Marino FSM White with the San Marino National emblem
Slovakia SMF Blue, red and white
South Africa MSA Black, green, blue and red with yellow and white bands
Spain RFME Yellow and red
Sweden SVEMO Blue and yellow
Switzerland FMS Red with white cross
Uruguay FUM Light blue
USA AMA Blue with 2 white bands
... The overly large sponsor ads, well, I just accept those as part of the show...
It'll be tough to beat them on home soil.
