MotoGP riders sticking their leg out.. For What??

for all of you who are a MotoGP fan, or just watched it occasionally. did you notice why some of the riders stick their leg out when they're about to enter a corner? Rossi is the first person that i notice doing this, since i'm huge fan of MotoGP and him of course, then everybody started copying this move or technique. check this link out for more info :) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3522552009_c584b5b10d_o.jpg


(Valentino Rossi trailing his leg)


(Alvaro Bautista trailing his left leg out befor entering a corner)