The FIM has introduced a new helmet homologation standard for 2026, called FRHPhe-02, and it's already changing which helmets riders can use in FIM-sanctioned motocross and supercross championships. Two helmets have been confirmed as certified under the new standard so far: the Bell Moto-10 and the Alpinestars S-M10. If you race at a sanctioned level, or you simply want your next dirt bike helmet to reflect where protective standards are heading, here's what FRHPhe-02 actually is and why it matters.
What Is FRHPhe-02?
FRHPhe-02 is a helmet certification standard developed under the FIM's homologation program (the "FRHPhe" designation stands for FIM Racing Homologation Programme for helmets). In general terms, a helmet standard like this sets requirements a helmet has to meet before it can be approved for use in the sport's top competitions. That typically includes structured impact testing (how the shell and liner manage energy from a direct hit), and increasingly, testing for rotational forces, the twisting motion a helmet's outer shell can experience in an angled impact, which has become a major focus of helmet safety research over the last decade.
The FIM, as motorcycling's international governing body, doesn't manufacture helmets or run test labs itself. Instead, it sets the criteria and works with accredited testing bodies and manufacturers to confirm which helmets meet the bar. A helmet earning FRHPhe-02 certification means it has been evaluated against this newer set of criteria, not just the older DOT, ECE, or Snell standards that most consumer helmets are built around.
Why FIM Introduced a New Standard
Helmet safety standards evolve as testing science improves and as more real-world crash data becomes available. Older standards were built primarily around straight-on impact testing. Over time, research into concussions and brain injuries in motorsport pushed standards bodies (Snell's updated ratings and the UK's SHARP program are two well-known examples) toward testing that also accounts for rotational and angled impacts, since many real crashes don't happen in a straight line.
It's reasonable to understand FRHPhe-02 as part of that broader shift: a standard built for how riders actually crash, not just how a helmet performs in a lab drop test straight onto a flat anvil. Because FIM sanctions the world's top motocross and supercross championships, mandating a standard like this also puts pressure on the entire helmet industry to build to that bar, not just the small number of riders racing at the FIM level.
Which Helmets Are Already Certified
As of now, two helmets on the market have been confirmed as meeting the FRHPhe-02 standard.
Bell Moto-10
The Bell Moto-10 Spherical is Bell's flagship off-road racing helmet, already a common sight at the professional level. Models like the Bell Moto-10 Spherical Mirage use Bell's spherical shell technology, designed around managing both direct and angled impact energy, which lines up with the direction FRHPhe-02 testing is pushing the category.
Alpinestars S-M10
The Alpinestars Supertech S-M10 is Alpinestars' top-tier motocross helmet, built with a similar focus on multi-impact and rotational protection. The Supertech S-M10 Ampress is one of the current graphics packages available in the lineup.
Both of these are already established, proven helmets in the pro paddock, so their certification isn't a redesign from scratch, it's confirmation that the engineering they were already built around holds up against this newer testing criteria. Expect other manufacturers to pursue FRHPhe-02 certification for their top-tier helmets as the standard becomes a bigger part of the conversation heading into the 2026 season.
What This Means for Your Next Helmet Purchase
If you race in FIM-sanctioned events, this is worth paying attention to directly, since helmet requirements at that level can and do change season to season. For everyday riders and racers at the local or regional level, FRHPhe-02 isn't a requirement yet, but it's a useful signal. When a standard like this gets adopted by the sport's governing body, it tends to indicate where helmet safety testing is headed industry-wide, and manufacturers that get certified early are usually the ones investing the most in that testing.
Practically, that means when you're shopping for a new motocross helmet, it's reasonable to weigh FRHPhe-02 certification as one more data point alongside the usual factors: fit, ventilation, weight, and your existing certification requirements (DOT, ECE, or Snell, depending on where and how you ride). A helmet that's already cleared this bar isn't cutting corners on rotational impact management, and that's a meaningful thing to know before you buy.
Whether you land on the Bell Moto-10, the Alpinestars S-M10, or something else, pair it with the rest of your dirt bike riding gear setup for the season. A top-tier helmet paired with worn-out gloves or a cracked chest protector still leaves gaps in your protection, so it's worth reviewing your full kit at the same time you're upgrading your lid.
FAQ
What does FRHPhe-02 stand for?
It refers to the FIM's Racing Homologation Programme for helmets, the second generation of that certification framework.
Is FRHPhe-02 the same as DOT, ECE, or Snell certification?
No. It's a separate standard developed specifically for FIM-sanctioned racing. Most consumer helmets sold in the US are still built around DOT, ECE, and/or Snell certification, and those remain the relevant standards for everyday riding and most local racing.
Do I need a FRHPhe-02 certified helmet to race motocross?
Only if you're competing in FIM-sanctioned championships where the standard is mandated. Local, regional, and most amateur race organizations set their own helmet requirements, which typically reference DOT, ECE, or Snell standards instead.
Which helmets are currently certified to FRHPhe-02?
The Bell Moto-10 and the Alpinestars S-M10 (Supertech S-M10) are the two helmets confirmed as certified as of this writing. More models are expected to pursue certification as the standard becomes more established.
Why does FIM's helmet standard matter if I don't race at that level?
Standards adopted by a sport's governing body tend to influence where the broader helmet industry focuses its safety testing and engineering, which can shape the options available to everyday riders over time.
Where can I shop certified helmets and other gear?
You can browse the current lineup in our dirt bike helmets collection or shop the full motocross gear lineup for everything else you need for the season.