There are few more iconic and exhilarating sights in sport than a MotoGP™ rider leaning at a near-impossible angle as they hurtle around a corner at incredible speed. Think Jorge Martin at the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya’s iconic Turn 5. It tells you everything you need to know about why we love this sport. But exactly how do MotoGP™ riders corner so fast?
It’s a combination of balance, braking technique, cutting-edge MotoGP technology, electronics, highly-tuned riding skills and tyre grip, all working together in harmony.
In this article we’ll explain each aspect of the phenomenon of hitting the apex at maximum velocity, to give you a fresh appreciation for just how much work goes into MotoGP cornering technique.
The Basics: What Makes A MotoGP Bike Corner Fast?
The most important thing to remember about how a MotoGP bike can corner so fast is the grip from the slick tyres used in racing. That’s the ultimate limit on speed, because once the grip is gone, so is the bike, which will slide or crash.
The speed a rider can travel through a corner depends on this traction, the lean angle and the rider’s control over the bike.
Finding ways to improve all of these factors is how riders can get a competitive edge, pushing that limit while staying safe and being able to do it lap after lap.
Body Position: Hanging Off For Grip And Control
The way that riders hang off their bikes while going around corners plays a hugely important role in improving both grip and their control. They are using their body weight to reduce how much the bike itself needs to lean.
They do this because lean angles are important, but leaning the bike too far over risks losing enough traction between the tyres and the track to maintain grip.
Riders often use tactics like dangling a leg or shifting their weight forward to help improve balance and stability - keeping them in better control of the front end.
Lean Angle And Balance
Lean angle is a crucial factor in MotoGP. The calculation riders make when cornering is the balance between the optimal lean angle to get through the corner fastest and the risk of leaning too far and losing grip on the track.
That doesn’t stop riders searching for more extreme lean angles in their pursuit of speed. Indeed, MotoGP riders can lean their bikes at extreme angles of up to 65˚ when cornering.
They maintain their balance by brushing their knees, elbows and even shoulders on the track surface, to help them stay in control.
It’s also essential at high speeds and extreme angles that anything they do to the bike – twisting the throttle, braking or turning - is done smoothly to avoid upsetting the balance.
Braking Technique: Corner Entry Speed Is Everything
Knowing when to brake going into a corner is another skill that MotoGP™ riders need to master, especially as they brake as late as possible, so as to avoid losing too much speed.
In MotoGP™ trail braking is a technique where the rider gradually releases the brakes as they lean into the corner, keeping the weight on the front tyre, increasing the grip and helping the bike turn.
Front-end control is key for this style of late braking. If there’s too much brake pressure, the front tyre will lose grip, but if there’s not enough, that will impact the bike’s ability to corner quickly.
Throttle Control And Corner Exit
Going into a corner is important, but so is corner exit and knowing when to start throttling to accelerate again. This is another crucial calculation for how MotoGP™ riders turn so fast.
Starting too soon risks breaking traction and causing the rear wheel to spin, but starting too late impacts the bike’s ability to build up high speed on the straight and could cause the rider to lose their position.
The time to throttle is when the rider is picking the bike back up from its lean angle, but it’s crucial to make sure it’s done smoothly, otherwise that will cause the bike to lose its grip.
Why Slick Tyres Make Fast Cornering Possible
MotoGP™ bikes use slick tyres with no tread, because this maximises the amount of rubber in contact with the track, increasing the grip.
Like every other part of the bike, they are specifically designed for their purpose, which is to allow for high lean angles and working at very high temperatures. Tyre selection and managing tyre condition throughout the race is crucial to make sure they work effectively and safely.
Electronics That Support Cornering
How do MotoGP™ riders corner so fast while staying safe? As well as the tyres, bikes also have various electronic systems on-board to help with cornering.
There’s traction control to help reduce rear wheelspin while accelerating, and there’s engine braking control that keeps the bike stable while slowing down.
Bikes also have anti-wheelie systems to keep the front wheel on the ground when starting to accelerate out of corners - otherwise the rider could quickly lose control.
These systems are all there to keep the rider safe, but are no substitute for the skill and courage of the participants in the most exciting sport on earth.
Aerodynamics And Downforce In Corners
The importance of aerodynamics in MotoGP™ is all about keeping the bikes stable by generating downforce.
The bikes have winglets that help to keep them planted on the ground, giving the rider the confidence to enter and exit the corner at high speeds.
Racecraft: Lines, Overtakes and Risk Management
Strategy is also important for cornering. Some of it can depend upon where the rider is in the race when they approach a corner - how aggressive or defensive they want to be.
Keeping a tighter line can work as a defensive strategy by blocking off opponents, while taking a wider, faster line can work for overtaking, which can happen going into a corner or coming out, depending on the strategy.
Riders also need to be aware of their position in relation to other bikes on corners, which can affect both grip and visibility, so they need to be able to manage that risk.
Why MotoGP™ Cornering Is So Hard (And Why Mistakes Happen)
How do MotoGP riders corner so fast without crashing? It only takes one miscalculation or element of bad luck to cause a crash.
This is the reality of pushing cornering techniques to the limit in every single lap, and even across a race there are many factors that can change that affect cornering - temperature of the tyres, wear and tear, track conditions, fuel usage and rider fatigue for example.
Even the best riders in the world need to be aware of all of these factors, which is why cornering remains a thrilling but incredibly difficult part of MotoGP™.
In MotoGP™, body position, rider technique, technological precision, the right tyres, track condition, and lean angles are all crucial in answering the question of how do MotoGP™ riders corner so fast?
Keen to learn more? Check out this article on specifically why MotoGP riders touch the ground with their elbows.