Leg dangling in MotoGP

[TooFastTim]

So you think it's a new thing do you? Have a look at 4 min 51 secs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=CNX4MUtB8DQ

[Curly3]

Great old footage, seems a bit sedate now.
A lot of knee dangling but didn't see many feet coming off the peg like they do now.

[Marc.com]

I was reading about one of the 1950s Manx GP where one of the leaders ducked off the course for a slash and still won.... thats real dangling. I have no problem with the current MotoGP leg dangle, it is a reflection of the different techniques the electronic traction controls and anti wheelie allow.

Hell lifting the front wheel seems so old school these days/

[TooFastTim]

I once heard a story about Les Graham (I think it was) he was on the works MV practicing at Monza and the front brake adjuster would keep coming loose, so every time he went down the main straight he slid his hand down the forks and tightened the adjuster and still set fastest time. Within 5 laps every arsehole was going down the straight holding the left fork slider!

[GD66]

So you think it's a new thing do you? Have a look at 4 min 51 secs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=CNX4MUtB8DQ

Yeah, but Tim : it's on the way OUT of Copse, Silverstone's quick first corner. The answer lies in your clip at 1:40, where Roberts returns from the warmup lap with a leaking gearshift shaft oil seal. As Kel wheels the bike away, Roberts grabs a towel and starts wiping oil from his left boot. So I'm sure the foot-down out of Copse is no more than a wipe of the sole of his boot to try and get rid of the oil.

[oldyzman]

Kenny and Barry, Pair of legends
Brett

[TooFastTim]

I wondered whether you lot (no flies on you lot...) would pick that up. It's also on the outside leg. Today it's always the inside leg.

I also wondered how much of Sheene and Roberts histrionics were part of a bigger game. Sheene complains he's on a shit bike. Roberts compalins the bike is only 75% right. Were they trying to psych each other out? In the same vein I wondered whether Roberts' display on the start line was part of the same game.

I can't remember whether Roberts was in front of Sheene at the time he dangled his leg. If he was it could have been a pure bluff: "watch out! My bikes leaking oil, don't get too close and keep off my line(s)".

[GD66]

No, he's tucked in behind Sheene with Hartog leading at the time. Roberts really spoiled Sheene's party when he turned up for the '78 season after Sheene's back-to-back world title wins in '76/'77 : learnt the tracks, ran Goodyear tyres, and blew him off for three years. Sheene never recovered, and in all his years of tv commentary never missed a chance to take a swipe at Roberts ("couldn't sort out a sock drawer", "couldn't develop a cold" etc).
He did a hell of a lot for public acceptance of bike racing, and was quite good fun : we shared a garage with him one weekend when he was racing his Manx at Eastern Creek, but man, the guy could whinge...

[TooFastTim]

Just had another look at the vid...it was good theory 

Reading his bio at the mo'. Seems he was a very complex character.

[Marc.com]

No, he's tucked in behind Sheene with Hartog leading at the time. Roberts really spoiled Sheene's party when he turned up for the '78 season after Sheene's back-to-back world title wins in '76/'77 : learnt the tracks, ran Goodyear tyres, and blew him off for three years.

I think Roberts was one of the all time great development riders, both TZ350, OW31 became unbeatable on Roberts watch and the 500 he inherited from Ago then went on to wipe the floor with the Suzukis. I was reading an article recently where Kenny offered to show Vale the way round sans electronics 

[Lozza]

I think Roberts was one of the all time great development riders, both TZ350, OW31 became unbeatable on Roberts watch and the 500 he inherited from Ago then went on to wipe the floor with the Suzukis. I was reading an article recently where Kenny offered to show Vale the way round sans electronics 

I think Marco Luccinelli, Franco Uncini and Freddie Spencer would have a different opinion.

[Mike52]

Bah.
Here's a real leg dangler at Lakeside in about 1974

[TooFastTim]

So supermotards origins can be traced to Aus? 

[Mike52]