SIDI - I started with sidi in 2001 when I won the championship Supersport and have been with them every year since except 2003. They personalise my boots for size and design and put my number on them. I have fully ventilated boots and also boots without ventilation for wet conditions.
Also they provide me with cycling shoes for road bicycle and mountain bike. Also boots for motocross and super motard.
They provide me with great comfort and protection.
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RST - I started my relationship with RST leather suits in 2006 in World Superbike with Yamaha. Jonny Towers is the man in charge there and has become a personal friend along with Wacker Walker who put together the latest layout. They are based in England and have mostly raced in the National Championship in Britain. I am the first rider for RST to use their suits in the world Champoinship. We are developing the comfort and safety of the suits all the time. The final design version of the suit was used in Qatar and Australia in the opening rounds of this years World Championship.
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PREMIER
At the end of 2006 I was approached by a representative from Premier helmets about coming to join the Premier family. I was quite happy where I was because I had been with my previous supplier ever since I came to Europe in 2000, but the Premier proposal looked very good, the main attraction being much more focus on me as a rider because they dealt with less riders and the atmosphere of a family company headed by Mr Madeo and managed day to day by his son Luca. It was put to me in Italian which I had a little grasp of but when it comes to negotiating contracts and discussing helmet sizes and designs it was a little bit beyond me. So step in the lovely english speaking Elisa to help her brother Luca and I through the process. I joined Premier for the 2007 Motogp season with Ilmor which turned out to be a disaster with Ilmor withdrawing from racing but Premier stuck by me through the occasional wild card ride for Honda Ten Kate and the Yamaha motogp testing job. This year we approach the 2008 World Supersport Championship with a 3 year contract with Honda Ten Kate which hopefully will result in a return to World Superbike with them.
I spend a lot of time in the area around Lucca in Italy where Premier is so I have really become part of the family dragging Luca out running or swimming when he has time. I am very happy with my Premier helmet and the latest design for my replica seems to be really creating some interest. They are great in the rain which for me is always the critical test of a helmet and the comfort and fitting is the highest level. So I am looking forward to some successful years with Premier and especially some more race wins like Phillip Island to get that helmet up on the podium. Most of all because actually every member of Premier’s family seems to love me…and hopefully in the end I’ll become an official member of that team.
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VOLVO - The relationship with Volvo cars Italy began in 2005 when I was racing for Yamaha as a team sponsor. Since then the relationship has grown and they have supported me personally through other teams I have ridden for. They provide me with a current model Volvo each year to travel around Europe and to the races.
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MILSPEC SERVICE - Milspec Services is an International company run by two motorcycle enthusiasts in Australia. Mark Merten and Steve Byrne are partners in the business and have supported me since I raced in Australia 10 years ago. They have helped me in many ways throughout my career and continue their ongoing support to this day. They travel with their families to Phillip Island every year for the Australian round and normally 2 races in Europe.
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