Tucking the Front

Tucking the front is a sudden loss of front tire grip in motorcycle racing that causes the front wheel to slide out and the bike to crash instantly.

When a rider "tucks the front," their motorcycle's front tire loses traction without warning, typically while going around a corner. The front wheel slides sideways, and the bike immediately falls to the ground on the inside of the turn. This type of crash happens so quickly that riders rarely have time to react or save themselves.

The most common cause of tucking the front is applying too much front brake while the motorcycle is leaned over in a corner. When a bike is tilted at an angle, the front tire has less grip available for braking. If the rider brakes too hard, they exceed the tire's grip limit and it slides out.

Other causes include suddenly letting off the throttle mid-corner, which shifts the bike's weight forward and overloads the front tire. Poor tire conditions like cold tires, worn treads, or incorrect air pressure also increase the risk of losing the front end.

Riders often describe the feeling as the handlebars suddenly turning sharp toward the inside of the corner, followed by an immediate fall. Because front-end tucks happen so fast, they're considered one of the most dangerous types of motorcycle crashes in racing.

You might also hear this called a "front-end washout" or "losing the front." Commentators frequently use these terms when explaining crashes during motorcycle races like MotoGP, where riders push their bikes to the absolute limit of tire grip.

Professional riders work closely with their teams to set up their motorcycles' suspension and choose the right tires to minimize the risk of tucking the front, but it remains a constant threat when racing at high speeds through corners.