leg out before corner and info please

i am watching the moto gp for the first time (at donnington) on my sickbed and seen something that has confussed me,
why does valintino rossi stick his leg out everytime before the tight left into tight right while no other rider does this, is there a reason or its just what he does, being the best in the world made me take notice and if nessesary apply anything possible to my first track day which i hope to do in a month or two
so if you could answer this query and put down any advice you think i should take onboard before myown outing would be appreciated
also is there a super novice trackday or complete newby break your cherry day i could do as to be honest i really want to do a td but am bricking myself and dont want to look like a complete tit (for those that have seen me ride know im slow as f***)
cheers
dave

www.rapidtraining.co.uk

properly good for novices

ignore the leg thing.

Apparently for balance/braking.

i reckon its to see how many people copy him

you mean the Rossi Rudder, he does it because he is uber cool!

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by shonadoll

Apparently for balance/braking.

Thats my take on it, by I was reading an article where they interviewed Leon Haslam and he tried it as a technique and said he got no benefit from it, He reckoned it was a physological thing / habbit Rossi has got into and the others are just copying him...

I used to do it, for me it was more a cramp thing to release pressure on my leg from changing gear, see, my gearbox on my last SV was in reverse, therefore, you'd stamp UP the gearbox for a slow corner, so you'd need to clear your leg from under the shifter before the corner.

For Rossi & Co, it's the same sort of thing, it is known as a stress meter for him.

I'd go with the cramp thing, it seems to be a comfort thing mroe than anyhting...also, i guess under very very hard braking, it offers some security. I really dont think its anything that would definatly make someone a faster rider - there are more fast racers who dont drag their leg than there are fast racers that do drag their leg

Rossi has said he believes it allows him to brake harder as it shifts his balance on the bike. It is a characteristic he has developed in riding the 800's. The other riders do do it as well but not as frequently. Casey was doing it a lot yesterday too.

DavePreston, I would recommend that you don't bother trying this technique for a first trackday You will;

A) Have enough other things to worry about
B) Gain no discernable benefit
C) Look like a t!t

I reckon its simpler than that tbh, I think he,s just making himself larger, thereby making it more difficult to get past him, whatever it is, its working.