Mips extends partnership with Team HRC in MXGP
Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez continue as part of Team Mips
Mips, a world-leading helmet-based safety technology company, is pleased to announce the continuation of a partnership with Team HRC, Honda’s factory racing effort, in the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP).
The Slovenian motocross athlete, Tim Gajser, has global recognition after becoming the World Championship’s most successful rider over the past eight seasons. Gajser has won the MXGP World Championship four times in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022. Spaniard Ruben Fernandez has had an impressive rise through the ranks in MX2, and MXGP from 2022. His success in MXGP convinced Team HRC to sign him alongside Gajser for the 2023 campaign. The duo are joined this year by new MX2 signing Ferruccio Zanchi.
Bouncing back from an early leg injury in 2023 which sidelined him for seven months, Gajser won two of the last MXGP rounds of the season upon his return and is looking to take that momentum into 2024. Fernandez also stood on the podium four times, including starting his maiden season as a factory rider with a victory in Argentina.
Tim Gajser commented: “I’ve overcome several injuries throughout my career – and the 2023 season was no different. But this is a consequence of professional motocross competition. It’s difficult to win one world championship, but when you win four – there’s an expectation from myself and everyone else to continue that winning streak. That’s the goal in 2024, so when I’m concentrating on racing, I need to feel reassured that I’m protecting the most important part of my body – my head. And that’s why I’m happy to be working with Mips.”
Max Strandwitz, CEO at Mips concluded: “We are delighted to have agreed an extension to the Team HRC MXGP partnership, which began in 2021. It’s a sport full of high risk and speed, and we’re proud to continue backing Gajser and Fernandez, helping them feel confident to compete at their best. We look forward to supporting the Team HRC MXGP in the 2024 World Championship and wish them the best of luck.”
Team Mips is a global force of helmet safety advocacy that collaborates with ambassadors from diverse backgrounds and sporting disciplines. Its core mission is to use the voice and influence of some of the best athletes in the world, who can help encourage and raise helmet safety awareness for all to make the right decision in helmet purchases.
The highly decorated group of action sports talent, of which Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez are part of, also includes MotoGP rider, Aleix Espargaró. They are joined by Canadian freeride mountain biker Brandon Semenuk, widely regarded as the greatest mountain biker in the world, American mountain bike cross-country cyclist Kate Courtney, and the French four-time snowboard Freeride World Champion, Marion Haerty.
Photocred: Bavo Swijgers
About Mips
Mips specializes in helmet-based safety and is a market leader in this field. Based on an ingredient brand business model, the Mips® safety system is sold to the global helmet industry. The Mips® safety system is patent-protected and based on 25 years of research, testing, and development in cooperation with the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and the Karolinska Institute, both located in Stockholm, Sweden. The company’s headquarters and the test center are also located there, with more than 80 employees working in research and development, sales, marketing, and administration.
Currently, Mips has partnered with over 150 helmet manufacturers. Since its inception, the Mips® safety system has been included in more than 1,000 helmet models worldwide.