Arai Helmet will serve as the Official Helmet of Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) for the 2026 season, extending a deal that began in 2018.
The history behind both organizations goes back a long way. Hirotake Arai started making hats in Japan 100 years ago. By the early 1950s, he had built the first motorcycle helmet ever made in Japan. It was one he wore himself when riding. Hirotake soon began selling them commercially. Still family-owned, Arai is now in its third generation, with Michio Arai serving as president and his grandson Aki Arai being groomed to eventually take over.
American Flat Track has roots even deeper in American motorsport. The AMA held its first sanctioned flat track race in 1924, making it one of the oldest forms of motorcycle competition in the country. The series rebranded as American Flat Track in 2017 under AMA Pro Racing and now runs three classes: AFT SuperTwins, AFT Singles, and AFT Production Twins.
Every Arai helmet is handmade at the company’s factory in Omiya, Japan. The design is built around what Arai calls its Egg-Shaped Form shell. It is a smooth, rounded shell designed to deflect and disperse impact energy, rather than stopping it dead in one spot. The company calls this Glancing Off performance and has been refining it for over 70 years.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Progressive American Flat Track for the 2026 season,” said Arai Managing Director Brian Weston. “Flat track racing demands confidence in your equipment, and we’re honored that so many of the sport’s top riders continue to choose Arai for its protection, comfort, and craftsmanship.”
“Arai’s reputation is built on a long-standing commitment to doing things the right way,” AMA Pro Racing CEO Gene Crouch added. “That focus on protection and consistency translates directly to rider confidence every time they line up. Their continued partnership reflects a shared standard of performance across the series.”
Arai’s current U.S. motorcycle helmet lineup covers ten models across four categories. Street full-face: Corsair-X, Contour-X, Signet-X, Quantum-X, and Regent-X. Dual-sport: XD-5. Open-face: Ram-X and Classic-V. Off-road: VX-Pro4.
