In MotoGP, Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez have been seen wearing nasal dilators, although Pol’s one is a step forward from the basic strip.

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He uses a silicone nasal dilator, possibly made by Noson AG in Switzerland, which opens the nasal airways to the maximum using a reusable dilator.



The strips are believed to work well, but MotoGP is intensely physical as the riders throw the bikes around bends for 20-25 laps. At this time, sweat can be a problem with the adhesion of nose strips, even though modern helmets have vents for cooling. Strips are tiny, but being one-use only, adds to the burden on ecology.



The intranasal silicone pads that Espargaro uses help spread the nostrils without touching that delicate nasal septum. This prevents an increased secretion flow common to some dilators, and the pads hold up well in sweaty conditions. One downside might be contact sports, where they can be more easily knocked off.



Such aids are considered essential in many high-intensity professional sports, where a microsecond can be decisive for defeat or victory. That’s why professional bike riders like Danny Petrucci, Pol (and Asprilla’s Aleix) Espargaró, Jorge Martín, and many others make regular use of nose strips in one form or another.



An amateur racer commented, “I have been wearing these for years. what is Marc Marquez wearing on his nose don’t think they are doing anything till you forget to put one on. They help you breathe in a controlled way through your nose, rather than gasp for air through the mouth, making a moto race easier to navigate.



They assist with arm-pump by getting more oxygen through to the lungs. As a result, I don’t get tired when wearing one in the closing minutes of a race, but if I don’t, I’m fatigued much sooner. They are dirt cheap and certainly worth the effort.”
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