Racing Numpty Question

[Al Gorithum]

Started watching motorcycle racing again on the telly recently after a long time away from it.

I noticed that some riders tend to put their foot down (before the knee) prior to entering a turn. Don't understand why.

Can my my learn-ed 2 wheeled chums help please?

[Biker's Nemesis]

Rossi started it years ago saying that it helped him turn into corners and helped braking stability.

Que everyone adopting it.

(short version)

[kimducati]

As above is I think the official reason - Rossi was the first I saw doing it.
Personally, I think the braking thing is a red herring, although the dangling leg will move the c of g towards the inside of the corner. I just think it's to visually fill or mask any gap between the bike and the apex of the corner, to maybe dissuade a following rider to lunge up the inside.
Worked until Marquez came along..............................
btw not a complaint, just an observation, just so we don't descend into another Rossi vs. Marquez bunfight !!
kim

[Al Gorithum]

Thank you very much Gents

[Scorched yellow]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Rossi started it years ago saying that it helped him turn into corners and helped braking stability.

Que everyone adopting it.

(short version)

Que? Cue.

[Far Cough]

If you watch Leon Haslam do it , he has taken it to a whole new level and appears to use it to block anyone from sliding up the inside under braking which it makes even more fun to watch when whoever does the overtaking just swipes it out the way !

[Biker's Nemesis]

Scorched yellow said:

Que? Cue.

Yep, thank "yew" for your contribution.

(That was deliberate by the way)

[LukeBrown66]

I think initially it was a sort of panic system, a lot of people do it when they don't ride often and feel they are going to fall, but it has become de rigeur in most top level racing, I doubt it offers any kind of advantage, but it became popular and I imagine somewhere data showed it help in a tiny way so everyone started it.

[slopes]

Far Cough said:

If you watch Leon Haslam do it , he has taken it to a whole new level and appears to use it to block anyone from sliding up the inside under braking which it makes even more fun to watch when whoever does the overtaking just swipes it out the way !

I was going to mention Leon, wasn't there some kerfuffle at Cadwell Park in his championship year as he did that to, i think Jake Dixon,

[Skyedriver]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Rossi started it years ago saying that it helped him turn into corners and helped braking stability.

Que everyone adopting it.

(short version)

The Doctors Dangle.

[Tardigrade]

LukeBrown66 said:

I think initially it was a sort of panic system, a lot of people do it when they don't ride often and feel they are going to fall,

I've done this myself, at least twice that I can remember. Once was hitting a stripe of diesel spill on a roundabout, and I instinctively stamped my inside boot down hard. It was only momentary, but I reckon it made enough difference to stop me going down. My leg ached for a few days, but I was pretty pleased with my lightening reflexes blah blah. The other time was totally uncalled for, the back wheel just skittered on a few grains of dirt, and I panicked. Felt like I nearly twisted my hip socket out, but the piss-taking from mates hurt more...