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Internal Ramblings: A Style of Speed
As Keith also points out, hanging off the bike makes it unstable. So, modern riders are arriving at an “optimal riding position” that allows them to gain the most benefit from hanging off, while maintaining the stability of the machine. This optimal position is simply faster than the aforementioned wild styles of the ‘90s, and going to those extremes is no longer necessary now that the science of body positioning is well understood. Keith sums it up this way: “The best [body position] is when you’re inline with the bike, you’re not fighting it, and you’re not having to add lean angle; not raising the combined center of gravity of yourself and the bike. When you’re more in tune and connected with the bike, being less of a distraction to the motorcycle, it’s much easier to ride.” Not to mention faster.
Whether it's the champagne-spray or the leg-dangle, no one does it like Rossi. Andrew Northcott Photo
In recent developments, a new style has some MotoGP riders dangling their inside leg during corner entry. It seems to occur mostly, but not exclusively, on left-hand turns, and it’s a style that was brought to the forefront by Valentino Rossi at the beginning of the 800cc GP era. It could no longer be ignored when he employed it to great effect during this year’s Polini Grand Prix of Japan, and lately, the “leg-dangle” is being used with some consistency among the top four riders in MotoGP. (Additionally, Ben Spies hung his leg out for a pass on Michel Fabrizio during one of the World Superbike races at Monza this year.) In fact, so many MotoGP riders are doing it now that at one point during the Catalunya Grand Prix, the top five looked like a lineup of can-can dancers. So, is this the next step in riding style, or is it a Rossi-inspired fad?
Keith, for his part, thinks that the physics of the leg-dangle just don’t work out. “You’ve got a 160-pound rider and his 30-pound leg. Would moving that much weight low and to the inside have an effect [on the forces at work]? Maybe. Would it be significant to the physics of the bike? No. But,” Keith adds thoughtfully, “Rossi is a pretty crafty guy, and if he could do something to distract the other riders… I know he’d do it.”
Nick suggested the leg-dangle might have an effect on some other body movement that isn’t being seen. Perhaps, he theorized, putting a leg out allows a rider to apply more pressure to the tank with the outside knee. Casey Stoner seemed to support that idea in a recent interview when he said that hanging a leg out seems to make the bike feel more stable on braking, and provides some leverage for tip-in, but only time will tell if the leg-dangle is actually faster, or just seems that way.
One thing’s for sure: in nature, survival is the driving force behind evolution; if a certain trait increases the chances of survival, then it will likely flourish and manifest in future generations, and so it has been with the development of modern riding style. For a racer whose life’s work is going fast, after all, speed and survival probably feel a lot alike.
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Thanks for the blog, Jesse. Definitely thought-provoking stuff. I think one other thing that has affected some aspects of riding style is technology. For example, electronics and improved tire traction has enabled modern racers to ride differently than their predecessors.
As for the foot-dangle popularized by Rossi, I suspect that it actually works to help initiate turn-in (and is not simply a mind game). For a lesson in how heavy the human foot and leg are, just sit in a chair and try holding your leg out horizontally for any length of time; to me, that has to be enough to affect the bike’s behavior. When motocrossers put a leg out in corners, it’s not only to use the foot as a stabilizer–it actually affects the bike and helps cornering. Granted, motocross boots are heaver than road race boots, but in road racing, there’s also the aerodynamnics to consider. I suspect that the force of the air pushing on the outstretched leg helps to subtly initiate the turn. Just imagine sticking your arm out of a car window; the air pushes on your outstretched arm and attempts to pivot your body.
I appreciate the comments, CJ. I definitely considered the technology angle, and I completely agree. Also, the adjustability of modern bikes surely plays its part. One thing I realized is that this topic is HUGE, so I had to pick and choose what points to make. I could have rambled on for a while.
Definitely a good article, and a subject that I’ve been looking into much of late. It seems to me that since the arrival of the 800cc Machines in MotoGP we’ve seen many changes to riding style as well as technique - and with the bikes being somewhat lighter than the 990’s, yet capable of equal or greater speeds, there has been a necessity for change. I think the primary reason for the “Leg Dangle” is a perceived instability in the front-end under braking that causes the riders to hang the leg out like they do. Approaching a corner at 125MPH while going down thru the gears and being really hard on the front brake may make the bike feel as if the front could just “go away” at any moment, and the “leg Dangle” may be an attempt to save it should it “go away”. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it!
For sure, Jesse. It’s interesting bench-racing material, and I’m just putting in my two cents. Thanks again.
My buddy Tom and I were just talking about this topic while watching Catalunya. Thanks shedding some light! We noticed everyone is following the leg hang trend…which just looks wierd!
Rossi made a statement some time ago about the “leg hang style”. He said it helped him to balance the bike under heavy braking. I quess he doesn’t have enough things to do while his out there.
What, no one noticed that Rossi started hanging his right foot out on some turns now as well?
I noticed it at Catalunya for sure, and maybe before.