Custom Arai Helmet Awarded to Pole Position Winner of 2017 Daytona 200

The grueling and prestigious Daytona 200 is now in its 76th year. Won only by the likes of such legends as Giacomo Agostini, Kevin Schwantz, and Kenny Roberts, the Daytona 200 has a rich history of drawing together some of the finest racers in the world. To celebrate this year's gathering, Arai Helmets awarded a one-of-a-kind Corsair-X helmet hand painted by renowned motorsports designer BEAMdesigns to Michael Barnes, the pole position winner and defending champion.

The Corsair-X is the culmination of Arai's consistent pursuit of gains in protection. Arai has been committed to researching, developing and handcrafted helmets. Featuring their proprietary R75 organic helmet shape, a peripherally-belted structural net composite square shell and a host of other innovations, the Corsair-X represents the evolution of protection in helmet standards and its heritage makes it the perfect helmet for the occasion at the 2017 Daytona 200.

The Arai Corsair-X helmet was handpainted by Jason Beam of BEAMdesigns, who has created masterworks of custom helmets for many modern motorsports legends. The design of this year’s Corsair-X includes classic pinstriping, paying homage to the custom culture near to the heart of motorsports culture. Since 1985, from Dakar to Daytona, from NASCAR to Superbike, helmets proudly customized by BEAMdesigns have adorned the heads of some of the most prominent racers.

This will be the third year that Arai has had the honor of awarding a custom, hand painted helmet to the Daytona 200 pole position winner. Some may wonder if the Corsair-X being awarded or even worn by some of the competitors in this year’s race are specially made. However, the Corsair-X used by some of the world’s most elite motorcycle racers is exactly the same as those available to the public for purchase at any motorcycle gear retailer — Arai doesn’t make helmets unique for their sponsored racers that they wouldn’t offer to the public.