Why the leg out?

[orangelion03]

Watching the MotoGP races this season, I'm seeing some of the riders kicking the inside leg out as they enter a turn.  At first I thought they were repositioning their foot on the peg, but during the Mugello race, one of the commenters mentioned "motocross style".  Is it a weight transfer thing?

So what's up with that?

[derby]

Watching the MotoGP races this season, I'm seeing some of the riders kicking the inside leg out as they enter a turn.  At first I thought they were repositioning their foot on the peg, but during the Mugello race, one of the commenters mentioned "motocross style".

So what's up with that?

there's at least one thread about it here in the racing forum... (i'm too lazy to find it)

there's also a HUGE thread about it buried somewhere on the wera forum. (yup, too lazy...)

short version: the riders THINK it helps them brake (more control/leverage/whatever) on the edge... they really don't know why they do it (or if it really works), they just do.

[gm2]

before you get hammered with "try searching" etc., this has been discussed a million times.

basically under heavy braking (pretty much the only place this happens) they are 'balancing' out the bike/themselves.  or they have made themselves think that's what's happening, which is the same thing.

some (like rossi, who basically invented this move in GP) say they don't even know why they do it.  some (like stoner) generally agree with the above and ~blame it on a flat track or mx background.

[gm2]

there's at least one thread about it here in the racing forum... (i'm too lazy to find it)

there's also a HUGE thread about it buried somewhere on the wera forum. (yup, too lazy...)

short version: the riders THINK it helps them brake (more control/leverage/whatever) on the edge... they really don't know why they do it (or if it really works), they just do.

 

[fastwin]

I've mentioned this in the earlier thread about this but do you notice they do it more in left hand turns than right turns? Not died in the wool 100% sure but I seem to notice it happening way more often in lefties. What's up with that? I thought for a while it was to reposition the shift foot on the peg. Doesn't seem to be the case. Weird. All I know it wouldn't make me any faster!

[gm2]

that used to be true: you only ever saw them doing it entering lefts, which made the reposition theory make more sense.  but then rossi, then everyone else, started doing it left and right.

i think it unconsciously started out as a reposition/settle thing after backshifts when entering hard braking lefts, then just grew into a general hard braking thing.

[zooom]

I still think it is not a mental thing, but a thing to block others from stuffing it up the inside on em while making themselves wider...

[fastwin]

There's a good chance you're also right. That would in theory make it harder to make an inside pass in a tight turn. But then why wouldn't the "leg out" rider just hold a tighter line? Ah, who knows. Combine all the ideas and each one makes some sense. Again, it damn sure wouldn't make me any faster! I only hold my leg out on straight sections of road because my knee hurts!

[gm2]

i don't think it has anything to do with passing or being 'wider'

[ducpainter]

I still think it is not a mental thing, but a thing to block others from stuffing it up the inside on em while making themselves wider...

You think a riders leg flapping in the breeze will stop someone from stuffing their bike up the inside?

I think it would be a target.

[zooom]

You think a riders leg flapping in the breeze will stop someone from stuffing their bike up the inside?

I think it would be a target.

why do I get the feeling you are going with the "Sweep the leg Johnny" mentality?!?!?!?

[derby]

You think a riders leg flapping in the breeze will stop someone from stuffing their bike up the inside?

it certainly doesn't stop the sx and mx guys... 

[fastwin]

After giving this some serious thought I now believe Rossi started doing this just to confuse and mess with the competition and the general riding public. Sort of a "if Rossi does it it has to be good, ergo I must do it to be fast" kind of a thing. Next he will probably start to take both hands off the bars before a turn and flail his arms over his head claiming it somehow centers him on the bike in a holistic sort of way helping to increase his corner entry speed.

[Turf]

After giving this some serious thought I now believe Rossi started doing this just to confuse and mess with the competition and the general riding public. Sort of a "if Rossi does it it has to be good, ergo I must do it to be fast" kind of a thing. Next he will probably start to take both hands off the bars before a turn and flail his arms over his head claiming it somehow centers him on the bike in a holistic sort of way helping to increase his corner entry speed.

Buddy of mine asked Scott Russell at the WSBK race.

He said Rossi started it to make the beast with two backs with everyone. 'behind him and he stick the leg out, you think he's going to miss the corner or he's going down but he's just messing with you. Since rossi was doing it, everyone else figured it must be good.'

[gm2]

now that i wouldn't put past him.