Me and My Kit: Niall Mackenzie, motorcyclist
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Your support makes all the difference.STARTING at the top, my helmets are specially made by AGV, who give me about six for the season. They're made to fit the shape of my head. They have a tool which measures my head in about 10 different places and they mould the helmet around that. You can't buy them in the shops but you can buy a replica of my helmet which I get royalties for. Underneath, I have ear-plugs.
My suits are also custom-made from good-quality hide. Mine are made in Japan. Sometimes suits are made from kangaroo hide because it's very tough but I'm not sure exactly what mine are. They take 70 different measurements to make my suits and I get six or seven for a year. At every joint - shoulder, ankle etc - I have extra protection built in. The sponsors who pay to have their names on my suits like them to look smart, so if I have a fall I can change to another one.
Underneath, I just wear underpants and socks. Mine are from Next - they seem to be popular at the moment. I don't have any lucky underpants like some people, but I never wear anything green - that's my only superstition.
I wear gloves and boots that are made to measure, but they are pretty standard. They do have extra protection around the knuckles and ankles. The only thing I carry to my bike, apart from my helmet, is a water bottle.
Niall Mackenzie, a member of the Banco Yamaha France team, rides in today's British Grand Prix.
(Photograph omitted)
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