Why the foot down coming into the turn (schwantz, rainey, etc..)

[johnster]

Hey yall, forgive the stupid question if it's something obvious + I'm just missing it, BUT...

    I'm a big MotoGP fan and have been for years, and I have to admit that some of the old 2-stroke 500 racing that I watch is more exciting in some ways than our current traction-controlled, 800cc machines. (Don't get me wrong, I still love it for sure and am rooting for Stoner all the way!!  )

-It's just amazing to see Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Wayne Rainey, John Kocinski and everyone else wrangle those machines that have absurdly non-linear powerbands, laughably flexible chassis' , and awful suspension setups compared w/todays machines...

-My question is though.. Why do I see a lot of riders from back in the day put their foot down to the pavement right before they dip into the corners?? I've never seen Rossi or Loris Capirossi (Who's a veteran) do this.. I used to think that it was to self-note the best place to countersteer in for their own benefit, but that doesn't explain why no one does it anymore..

-Thanks for any info you guys can provide!! 

[MotoPsycho]

Maybe it's a balance thing. Stick your foot out just a little bit to get the bike to tip over better ? Like a counter weight. Makes sense to me anyways.

[darylbowden]

I've never seen Rossi or Loris Capirossi (Who's a veteran) do this..

You've never seen Rossi do this?  Hs does it all the time, as does Pedrosa and many other riders.  In fact, if you watched the GP today, you would've seen Rossi do it probably 10 times at least (that were caught on camera).

Anyways, it's for balance going into the corner.

[johnster]

You've never seen Rossi do this?  Hs does it all the time, as does Pedrosa and many other riders.  In fact, if you watched the GP today, you would've seen Rossi do it probably 10 times at least (that were caught on camera).

Anyways, it's for balance going into the corner.

I shouldn't have said I never see them do it these days, just less than before  ... Admittedly, I don't watch as many races as I used to so I guess it's just me not noticing it as much... 

-More than anything, I was just always curious as to why riders did this... Like I said, I always thought it was to mark their turn-in point so they could find the optimal place to do so, but the balance thing makes sense too...

-Thanks for the replys and sorry about my cluelessness!!

[bigiain]

Anyways, it's for balance going into the corner.

Have you seen any references to that?

I' ve assumed it's a fine grained way to adjust the front/rear weight balance, but I've never seen any explanations from any of the current practitioners...

big

[Clyde Frog]

Anyways, it's for balance going into the corner.

How does the "foot waggle" (does it have a technical term?) help with balance? 
Why wouldn't all that extra moving around upset the suspension right before flopping into the corner? It's obvious that it doesn't, cause they wouldn't do it if it did.... but why doesn't it?


 

[gm2]

it's in order to re-position the foot after shifting.  you only see them do this with their left foot, entering left-handers. 

in right-handers their left foot is often heel/arch on the peg post-shifting, but it doesn't matter then.

[derby]

How does the "foot waggle" (does it have a technical term?) help with balance? 
Why wouldn't all that extra moving around upset the suspension right before flopping into the corner? It's obvious that it doesn't, cause they wouldn't do it if it did.... but why doesn't it?

we've covered some of this elsewhere, but most of what we're seeing (the foot off the peg) is repositioning after a downshift (with gp shifting). it's just easier/quicker to pull the foot completely off the peg to properly place it for the turn.

the "in between" foot hanging we're seeing is likely to keep from further unsettling the bike during that transition.  

[johnster]

we've covered some of this elsewhere, but most of what we're seeing (the foot off the peg) is repositioning after a downshift (with gp shifting).

Ahhhh OK, that makes sense.. When you see them downshift/brake, they're usually setting their body position as soon as they start slowing down (knee out, out of the tuck).  I suppose if it's your left knee sticking out while you're downshifting under the shifter, the easiest/quickest way to get it back on top is to come completely off the peg, extend your leg for a second, and turn in..

-and all this time I thought they were marking where they first countersteer in so they could adjust their lines from lap to lap!! 

-Live and learn.. Thanks for the input guys!!

[gm2]

-and all this time I thought they were marking where they first countersteer in so they could adjust their lines from lap to lap!! 

 

[NuTTs]

I do it to kick the competition out of the way