Seeing a rider dragging their knee in MotoGP™ as they incline to gravity-defying lean angles is something we’re accustomed to witnessing. It’s just one of the many incredible feats riders pull off as they entertain us with their skills.
But why does knee dragging in MotoGP™ happen? How did the practice start, and when? In this article we’ll look at the many different reasons, from the safety element to the benefits it brings to a rider’s balance and control. We’ll also look at how MotoGP™ riders protect themselves when dragging their knee.
The Origin of Dragging a Knee in MotoGP™
Knee dragging in MotoGP™ has its origins in the 1970s. Until that point in time, riders had ridden in a much more upright style as they kept their bodies relatively centred on top of the bike.
MotoGP™ Riding Posture
With the introduction of knee dragging, riders rapidly moved towards a more dynamic riding style that saw them shift their weight “outside” of the bike’s centre of gravity.
This saw them effectively hang off the side of the bike, and extend their knee to make contact with the track surface as a means of “feeling” how far the bike was leaning. It also served as a support, and helped with weight distribution.
Revolution in the early 1970s
Three-times 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Sr. and 250cc World Champion Jarno Saarinen are the two riders widely credited with pioneering the technique.
Saarinen was noted for his unusual riding style which involved extending his knee, and Roberts is reported to have witnessed Saarinen in action in the USA in the early 1970s.
Inspired by the Finn, and combined with his background in dirt-track racing, Roberts took things a step further by getting his knee down in contact with the asphalt in a bid to stabilise the motorcycle.
The American’s development and progression of the technique quickly became widely adopted.
How Knee Dragging in MotoGP™ Has Evolved
Since Roberts announced the arrival of dragging the knee in MotoGP™ in the 1970s, it hasn’t only become the norm but has evolved further.
More reliable and advanced levels of tyre grip and enhanced motorcycle performance mean riders have grown in confidence with getting the bike leaned even further and getting their knee down.
The introduction of knee sliders not only provided a much-welcomed additional MotoGP™ safety measure, but also signalled the normalisation of the practice.
Through the decades, some riders have become synonymous with knee dragging. Mick Doohan was a proponent of the technique through the 1990s, while Valentino Rossi was another through the 2000s.
From the 2010s to the present day, Marc Márquez took things even further with a more aggressive riding style that saw the Spaniard popularise getting the elbow down - a technique Rossi had also used.
Extreme lean angles enabled by better bike tech (aerodynamics, electronics and tyres) allowed the riders to push the limits to the extreme as they used their body positioning to even greater effect.
See more about MotoGP rider body positioning in this video.
How Knee Dragging Helps Balance and Control
Dragging the knee in MotoGP™ has some key benefits for riders. In a practical sense, extending the knee acts as a sensor for the rider to gauge what level of lean angle they are at, and how much more they have to play with.
In effect, it’s an integrated, real-time feedback tool for the rider to know exactly what’s going on as they ride through corners.
Being able to use their body weight to play with the bike’s centre of gravity is essential for a rider when managing a motorcycle through countless changes in direction, shifts in speed and power through a race.
By being able to move their body around the bike, riders are able to manipulate the bike’s reactions and performance, and getting their knee down helps them achieve this.
Dragging the knee also helps riders to reduce lean angle when they need to. In some corners, this means they can carry speed through the apex of a corner better, or it can result in faster cornering without as much loss of grip.
Riders have also ‘saved’ (prevented last minute) countless crashes through the years thanks to having their knee in contact with the track surface.
The added leverage and stability offered by the knee being dragged, along with the counteraction against centrifugal force, can help riders recover from momentary losses of front-end grip.
Safety Aspects and Body Positioning
Knee dragging offers an important safety aspect for riders. By providing the extra leverage and stability mentioned above, it can help make sliding of the motorcycle more predictable.
Due to the sheer speed and power of MotoGP™ bikes, riders experience a lot of bike movement beneath them with the motorcycle sliding from side to side under deceleration and braking.
A knee down can help stabilise a minor slide, as they correct a momentary loss of grip. You’ll often see close-ups during television coverage of Grands Prix in which riders save front-end slides by using their knee or elbow to regain control.
The use of knee sliders, which provide that extra protection and resistance, and the technological advances in rider leathers such as ultra-responsive crash airbag inflation, offer riders the best protection possible when even a knee or elbow cannot avoid a crash.
When and Why Riders Don’t Drag the Knee
It’s not always necessary for riders to drag their knee. On tight, low-speed corners a rider generally doesn’t need to get their knee down as the bike won’t be leaned over enough. This will depend on the apex of the corner they are riding through.
When conditions are wet, riders tend to ride with a more upright riding posture and therefore lean the bike less. This in turn reduces the need for dragging their knee when cornering in MotoGP™.
When riding on the straight, taking corners such as chicanes, and in other situations where little to no lean angle is in play, knee dragging is completely unnecessary.
Conclusions on getting a knee down in MotoGP™
Dragging the knee in MotoGP™ is an important technique for riders to help control their bikes, gain feedback on critical areas such as lean angle and grip, and to help them avoid crashes in certain circumstances.
The evolution and wide adoption of the technique over the past 50 plus years in MotoGP™ has seen knee dragging become an integral part of the sport, as riders have integrated it into their riding styles and strategies, seeking the fine balance between control, safety and performance.
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