Alpinestars

Alpinestars
Type	Private
Industry	Motorsport clothing; Action sports clothing; Casual clothing
Founded	1963
Founder	Sante Mazzarolo
Headquarters	Asolo, Veneto, Italy
Number of locations	3 (2010)
Key people	Gabriele Mazzarolo
Website	www.alpinestars.com

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Alpinestars is a manufacturer of technical, high performance protective gear^[1] for motorcycle and auto racing (MotoGP, Motocross, Formula One and NASCAR), as well as action sports such as Mountain Biking and Surfing.

Alpinestars has also established a fashion division with design centers in California and Italy, which draws upon Alpinestars' heritage in motorsports.

The company takes its name from the English translation of the Italian mountain flower "Stella Alpina" which grows high in the mountains around the area where the company was founded.

Founded in 1963 by Sante Mazzarolo in Asolo, Italy, the company started out making hiking and ski boots, but quickly shifted its focus to making boots for motocross racing as well as road racing boots shortly thereafter. Having enjoyed great success with many world champions such as Roger DeCoster, Kenny Roberts and Mick Doohan, the 1990s saw the company branch out into manufacturing all types of technical protective gear for motorcycling ranging from gloves and jackets to full leather suits.

Today the company is headed by Sante's son, Gabriele Mazzarolo and has offices in Los Angeles and Tokyo while the original headquarters and main research & development facility remain in Northern Italy.

Alpinestars leather suits and protective gear now adorn MotoGP World Champions Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, as well as World Superbike Champions Ben Spies and Troy Corser. Alpinestars' Motocross gear is used by numerous AMA and World Motocross champions such as Marvin Musquin, Tyla Rattray, David Philippaerts, Christophe Pourcel, and Ryan Villopoto.

Alpinestars has recently developed the Tech Air Race System^[2] - a highly advanced, electronic airbag safety system that utilizes an advanced data logging unit and dual charge inflation module. This system is currently being used in the MotoGP and World Superbike championships and ultimately will contribute to motorcycle rider safety on the street. In June 2013 Marc Márquez crashed at speed around 337 km/h (209 mph) and thanks to this suit got away without serious injury.^[3]

In auto racing, flame and heat retardant Nomex suits, footwear, gloves and underwear have been developed in Formula One and NASCAR with recent champions Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Jimmie Johnson using the gear with great success. Also, Top Gear's the Stig^[4] wears a white Alpinestars race suit, shoes and gloves.

Alpinestars was also a renowned manufacturer of mountain bikes until production ceased in 1996^[5] and has now focused on producing a specialist line of clothing and rider protection for mountain bike athletes.^[6]