There are mainly three reasons why MotoGP riders put their leg out during a braking section: to generate aerodynamic drag, to shift their center of gravity inward, and to block an inside overtake. A fairly new riding technique, introduced by Valentino Rossi, that everyone is now adopting.

As fans and insiders know well, evolution in the field of MotoGP is not measured solely in technical advances. New motorcycles, new circuits and cutting-edge electronics have always conditioned the progression of the riding style and technique of the riders, who are always looking for the perfect balance with the mechanical means and the highest possible performance.

Torso tucked into the fairing, knee grazing the tarmac, and now the celebrated “leg dangle” are only the most conspicuous modifications to a way of being on a motorcycle that has changed profoundly in recent years.

Valentino Rossi and the birth of the leg dangle

It was probably Valentino Rossi who was the first to introduce this new riding technique, in 2005 at Jerez during his now-famous overtaking of Sete Gibernau.

Arriving at the last corner just a few meters from his rival, the Doctor attempted a desperate overtaking maneuver, with a furious braking move that allowed him to overtake the then Movistar rider and triumph on the Spanish circuit. Either by instinct or by incredible calculation skills, during braking, Rossi extended his inside leg over the motorcycle platform, leaving it in midair at the apex.

In one of the most compelling moments in modern two-wheel history, the rider from Tavullia had once again rewritten the great book of motorcycling.

Soon, countless riders began to hone the maneuver, gaining a noticeable advantage and studying its effects, calibrating the angle and the precise timing for extending and retracting the leg.

It is difficult, if not impossible, today to find a MotoGP rider who does not use this technique—maximizing it in hard braking or employing a subtle dangle in slower direction changes. Riders themselves cite three reasons why this move is so effective: two rooted in physics and one in pure competition.

Aerodynamic Brake

One reason riders stick their leg out under braking is to act as an air brake, increasing surface area against the airflow at high speed. In this case, the leg outside the rider’s silhouette becomes like a sail or a spoiler, slowing the bike as it approaches the corner. It’s akin to drag-race cars deploying a parachute at the end of the straight or airplanes extending flaps to decelerate on landing.

Clearly, this “parachute” effect offers limited deceleration, but it’s invaluable when chasing that final inch before the brakes bite. After all, as the saying goes, be first on the throttle, last on the brakes.

Center of gravity and rotational moment

What happens when a bike leans at maximum in a high-speed corner is a small miracle of physics: conflicting forces balance in milliseconds to enable the perfect line and incredible speed. When these forces falter, the only options are sliding out or running wide.

Each leg accounts for about 20 percent of a rider’s mass—roughly 15 kg for a 75 kg rider. By extending their leg inward, riders shift their center of gravity, easing entry into the bend and reducing required lean angle. Simultaneously, air resistance on the leg and pelvis creates a slight rotational moment that further facilitates the bike’s turn.

Preventing overtakes

More pragmatically, many riders credit the leg dangle with making inside overtakes far more difficult. In today’s tightly contested MotoGP—where most passes occur under braking—the inside line is prime real estate. By extending their leg, riders create a physical barrier, deterring rivals from slicing inside.

Between myth and legend

It’s hard to say whether all three benefits are equally significant or whether, as skeptics claim, much of the leg dangle’s appeal is fashion. Distinguishing fantasy from hard data—and measuring lap-time gains without the dangle—is challenging. Yet if all 22 fastest riders employ it, there must be some edge, even if only psychological—a unique placebo effect.
Like knee-down slides, the leg-out move—boot grazing the tarmac, spraying a wisp of smoke—has become an iconic spectacle and a symbol of this wonderful sport. And if for that alone, it’s worth it.