Does anyone know why Rossi does this...I hope it works :-)

I'd guess it's stretching and simulating mind/body movements for track?

He talks to the bike. It's a living, breathing animal.

I think it's a meditation/prayer time for him! :ohmy:

Wrong type of gas in HIS tank! :ohmy:

Maybe it's the flush handle.... :ohmy:

Last one: He's the 'Horse(power) Whisperer' and he's asking his ride not to buck him off... :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:

Sorry to be boring, but it's:

- Stretching his legs

- Getting his mind in the right headspace

- Part of his race rituals.

These guys seem to be very superstitious, and also doing everything the same every time is important to them for consistency.

I was reading an interview with one of our A1GP drivers recently, and he said he has to ALWAYS put his right sock on, then right boot, then rifght glove, then his left ones. If he mucks up the order at all, he has to start over again.

If Rossi does it exactly as that photo shows, it's allowing him to stretch a bit and to focus his attention solely on his bike, since that's about all he could see from that position. Good to clear his head (and field of vision) by letting the bike block out all other visual stimuli.

Many athletes have 'pre-game rituals' that they go thru before every event. Most people use them everyday but may not realize it. For me, one routine I have is the feet: Right sock, right shoe, left sock, left shoe. Unless I'm wearing boots, then it's right sock, left sock, right boot, left boot, tie right boot, tie left boot. I'm not freakishly obsessive about it, but doing it differently feels strange.

Gloves are the opposite, though. Always left glove 1st, then right.

Rossi is just getting rid of his wedgie before the race, I figure. :ohmy:

constipation