Ready to race: Best sportsbike helmets as chosen by MCN

The RTSV95 is an aggressively styled helmet that is available in a range of colours and designs, including solid white and black. It is ACU Gold approved for track use and features a scratch-resistant visor with Pinlock posts (for the base 30 Pinlock only) and a drop-down internal sun visor. It comes with vent options including and chin and two forehead vents with an aerodynamic spoiler on the rear which appears to include exhaust vents to draw warm air out. SHARP Rating - N/A

Available in both HPFC (High Performance Fibreglass Composite) and carbon, the Challenger has apparently been designed using information gleaned from the racetrack. A square, chunky helmet, it comes in three shell sizes for a good fit and has chin, top and (switchable) rear exhaust vents formed in stabilising spoilers. It also has a drop-down sun visor and an optically correct main visor which is ready for the Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert. SHARP Rating - N/A

Caberg has always had a reputation for performance and value and the Drift Evo, its sporty helmet, is no exception. Formed in composite fibre, it comes in two shell sizes and has effective vents in the chin and on top of the head. It features a drop-down sun visor and the main visor is ready for the (included) Max Vision Pinlock insert, though the visor itself is tricky to remove and refit. The rear spoilers help with stability and the shaped base section allows the chin-up sports riding position. SHARP Rating - N/A

Ridiculous price for a helmet that has been awarded four stars by SHARP. It uses a polycarbonate shell that helps keep strength up and it comes with a detachable visor and a drop-down internal sun visor. The main visor is ready for a Pinlock anti-fog insert (which incidentally costs almost as much as the helmet!) and the lining is completely removable for cleaning. We've tried this and it is incredible value; vents aren't particularly effective but it is fairly quiet and comfortable. Definitely worth a try for that money.

Surprisingly not available in a carbon finish (unusual in this company though carbon is included in the fibreglass shell for strength), the K5-S is AGV's street sports helmet and certainly cuts a dash. It has a very contoured front end, narrowing around the mouth, though it still manages to fit vents either side of the chin. The top vent is placed directly in the flow of air for maximum cooling and to avoid interfering with the drop-down sun visor and exhaust vents allow warm air to escape.

The sports-styled RPHA 70 from HJC comes in a range of materials and finishes, as does the rest of the expansive HJC range but it's this carbon version, at £479.99, that caught our eye. The bare carbon weave is supplemented by red striping and the result is a light, strong shell. A chin vent and dual-purpose top vent admit (and remove) air while rear spoilers promote stability. There's a drop-down sun visor, quick-release main visor and emergency-release cheekpads in case of an accident.

The Scorpion Exo1400 Air is available in a range of carbon-fibre finishes, including this plain carbon and two with additional colour but when you're wearing carbon, you want to show it off. It's light and strong and comes with a Pinlock Max Vision-ready visor and internal drop-down sun visor. It uses Scorpion's AirFit system, with inflatable cheekpads for an optimum fit and there are stepped vents to promote cooling air flow, as well as a rear spoiler to help with stability and reduce lift.