What connects a MotoGP victory to Dakar? One rider - and his suit
You probably already know who we're talking about: Danilo Petrucci. But pause for a moment and think—he's the only rider in the world who has ever achieved victories across such radically different competitions. From the relentless high speeds of MotoGP to the rugged endurance of the Dakar Rally, Danilo’s talent and love for motorcycles isn't just rare—it's genuinely extraordinary.
At REV'IT! TAILORTECH, our connection with Danilo goes beyond results and race tracks. Genuine conversations, direct feedback, unforgettable moments. Like that first MotoGP victory at Mugello, in 2019. But the journey leading to such remarkable moments started long before that day—and continues even now. It began in 2015. If you placed Danilo’s first racing suit beside today’s version, you'd struggle to recognize it. Back then, airbags weren’t mandatory. Stretch panels were minimal, merely enough to ease arm movements. Shoulder armor combined aluminum and PVC to reinforce internal padding, knees had no external armor, and elbow sliders were still evolving—just small titanium plates next to fixed elbow protectors.
Fast forward to today, and Danilo’s suit tells a completely different story.
Take the airbag integration, for example. Imagine a system placed seamlessly between liner and leather, held precisely by five Velcro points and two main zips. Seven anchoring points distribute the airbag’s weight so effectively, you barely notice it's there. Four years of meticulous development, countless tests, adjustments down to the millimeter—and Danilo himself instrumental in fine-tuning every detail, especially the positioning and zip transitions between racing sessions.
Have you ever wondered how a shoulder protector can affect your speed? At REV'IT! TAILORTECH, we leave nothing to guesswork. Smaller, sleeker, purely PVC shoulder armors aren't placed randomly—they’re the result of precise wind tunnel tests. Before these sessions, we build specialized test suits, adjusting protector positions, switching out aerodynamic humps to uncover what genuinely performs best. Elbow sliders have also evolved dramatically. Initially, riders touched the ground with just a tiny area near the elbow. Today, riding styles vary—from barely grazing the asphalt to heavily relying on the elbow as a pivot. So, we evolved our sliders: now they have larger surfaces and two distinct versions. One flat, purely aerodynamic; another raised by 1.2 cm, for riders who push limits at extreme lean angles. Even something as seemingly minor as knee protection has changed significantly. Integrated armor is now standard. And remember that foam padding once deemed essential? Rider feedback proved it unnecessary, saving 100 grams and delivering a slimmer knee.
Another key detail setting REV'IT! TAILORTECH apart is our choice of materials. We integrate Schoeller's elite Kevlar fabric—a Swiss-engineered textile developed specifically for professional motorcycle racing. Its core-spun aramid yarns provide ultra-abrasion resistance, superior heat and impact protection, and unmatched durability. This exceptional material costs €67.10 per square meter, making it virtually exclusive to professional racing. At REV'IT! TAILORTECH, we offer Schoeller Kevlar in four distinct colors—Black, Red, Blue, and Fluorescent Yellow. Danilo himself races with the distinctive red variant this season in his Barni WSBK suit, demonstrating its proven reliability at the highest level.
Every suit crafted for Danilo embodies a larger philosophy: continuous dialogue, relentless refinement, and precise evolution. This expertise isn't exclusive to Danilo—it seamlessly translates into every model we craft, from the X_101, X_201, and X_301 to the entire REV'IT! Sport collection. Because at REV'IT! TAILORTECH, we understand racing is about more than speed; it's about details you might never notice—until they make the difference.
