What's that you say? New kit for 2009 already? Well, such is the nature of the commercial beast and dealers have to be charmed, wined and dined. And so on.

This year, long-established Italian designers Spidi had around 60 new pieces of kit in its catalogue but showed us only five. More interestingly, in some ways, were the explanations of what the 'CE-approved' stamp in your kits' protection actually means.

Friends, not all CE-approved armour is the same and it's worth using the internet to get a few things straight in your mind before you part with your hard-earned. Proving that Spidi's commitment to safety isn't just a natty logo, its new 'Warrior' chest protector can be fitted into all of the 2009 range of jackets and leathers.

However, the highlight of the show (for us) were the new XP7-R race boots. There's a stack of convincing technical information on www.xpdboots.com, but you might be swayed by Spidi-sponsored rider superbike rider Leon Haslam's assessment that “they're about ten times better in every way than the old boots.”

The boots feature a Lorica outer and an inner ankle-guard which is light and offers great flexibility where you want it as well as a double opening system, lots of adjustability, cunning new toe sliders and a new outer strap for a snug, personal fit. They are surprisingly light too. Available in black or black and white, they're at your local Spidi dealer now. For those keen on boots looking for an alternative to the Astars or Sidi brands, these are well worth a try on.

Needless to say there was a ton of other kit on show and, as usual with Spidi, it's the attention to detail that really impresses, not just the overall quality of the kit. See the range at www.spidi.com