In 2006 Lauda explained in an interview, that previously he always wore a helmet from Bell, but for the 1976 season AGV had developed a new more lightweight and comfortable helmet and Lauda tested it. The AGV helmet fitted too loosely. He believes that the Bell helmet would not have flown away. Lauda was awarded a high compensation payment from AGV. Research and innovations 1954 — First Italian fiberglass crash helmet 1956 — First Jet crash helmet 1958 — First company to use trackside advertising 1967 — First Italian full-face helmet 1977 — AGV sponsors the first racetrack Mobile Clinic 2007 — AGV Extreme Standards integrated technical design and construction approach developed 2012 — Begins selling first Extreme Standards helmets 2017 – AGV Sportmodular, the first full-carbon sport modular helmet Sponsorships AGV sponsors the following: MotoGP Valentino Rossi Jack Miller Franco Morbidelli Joan Mir Jorge Martin Luca Marini Moto2 Lorenzo Baldassarri Marco Bezzecchi Nicolò Bulega Moto3 Andrea Migno Niccolò Antonelli Celestino Vietti Ramus Dennis Foggia Gabriel Rodrigo WSBK/ Supersport Gabriele Ruiu BSB James Hillier Ryan Vickers Dan Linfoot Motard Thomas Chareyre Legends Niki Lauda Guy Martin Marco Lucchinelli Giacomo Agostini Troy Corser Manuel Poggiali Loris Capirossi Valentino Rossi See also List of Italian companies References External links Automotive companies of Italy Helmet manufacturers Sporting goods manufacturers of Italy Italian brands Manufacturing companies established in 1946 Companies based in Piedmont Alessandria Italian companies established in 1946