Italian brand Virus Power create synthetic racing suit meeting AAA status without using leather

World Superbike rider, Scott Redding turned heads with news that for 2025 he will use a new race suit featuring no animal-based leather materials of any kind.

The MGM Bonovo Racing Ducati rider will instead wear a one-piece that’s been manufactured in Italy from a high-strength polyester that scores the highest AAA standards for abrasion and impact protection.

It’s been made by Virus Power, a company founded in 2018 as an offshoot from protective workwear firm Pri.Ma.Tex Srl. Based in Prato, their trademark material is also claimed to be machine washable.

“It is patented all over the world, and with this special material we manufacture the complete suits, and also jackets, and we are planning to develop trousers, and other products,” Export Manager, Cristian Tartoni told MCN.

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“These suits are a little bit different to the traditional ones,” Tartoni continued. “It’s completely in textile, with no leather involved. We have many enquiries from vegan riders, from riders who don’t want animal leather, so it’s a big success.”

The armour within the suits is rated to the highest CE level 2, and is produced by a third-party brand.

“Compared to leather, it’s much lighter, and more breathable, and when you wear it it’s like a second skin,” the Export Manager said.

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He added that the suit offers far greater ease of movement than a leather equivalent and that Redding was amazed the first time he put one on and tried moving around.

Although Redding’s involvement has highlighted the brand to UK audiences, Virus have worked with racers in Italian, and Spanish championships, as well as the European Moto2 series. They also supply all of the suits to the junior MiniGP finals.

“There are no animal products at all,” Tartoni added. “The material is a multi-protective, and it’s made from 100% high tenacity polyester. Our factory has a background of 30 years of experience with personal protective equipment materials.

“We started with safety shoes, replacing steel toe caps. This material originates from this work,” he continued. “You can wash it in a normal domestic washing machine, just take the armour out, and when you slide on the tarmac there’s thermal insulation, so you don’t suffer burns on your skin.”

On top of the protection to the rider, Virus say they have plans to reduce their impact on the planet further. The company have already achieved a Global Recycled Standard (GRS) that recognises the product is made from a percentage of recycled material.

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The suits themselves can also be recycled after use, should you wish to do so.

But where can you actually buy one? Well, not in the UK just yet – however we’re told there are plans for that to change. That said, even their most basic off-the-peg Predator one-piece is priced at €1399 which will move them out of reach for some riders.

Scott Redding discusses his partnership with Virus

Following testing at Portimao, in Portugal, Scott Redding spoke to MCN about his work with Virus so far.

“For me, it’s the future of motorcycle racing suits, so I’ve taken a chance with it,” he told our World Superbike reporter, Greg Haines. “Comfort-wise, it’s absolutely amazing. I want it to be an elite racing suit, and it’s all made in-house, fantastic.

“When I put it on and rode the bike, I immediately had full range of motion. When I put it on, it was like it had been worn for two races already, it was perfect. It’s so different and I like that it has no animal products.

“The suit isn’t perforated, and that was a question mark to me, but I wore it in the rain at Jerez and they told it’s water resistant, and it’s true.

“So far, I’m really happy with the suit. I’m just working with them to get the best fit possible. Because it’s so soft, it’s so easy to get rolls in it – like you’ve got your jumper on. We’re working to get a nice fix, and I think that’s important.

“I turned up to a trackday, and I was expecting people to ask me about the bike, and I had 30 people over two days ask me about the suit. But, for me, that’s cool – I want to do that for them. They believed in me, and I want to give them that exposure.”