Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

By John Huetter He appears slightly out of focus first seen through the misting rain of a wet Belgian summer. He is digging in his garden, wearing -,old muddy shoes and pants, a "wet-look" Suzuki paddock jacket. The garden is ex tensive, neat, orderly, well thought-out like the man. til o " o a: , "' :t (.J Z "' > "' a: u. f"' til > "' o fo ...._-----------_...._----~~ Even when he's handling a hoe in the flower beds, he looks like a World Champion. He is. Roger DeCoster, three times World Motocross Champion in the 500cc class. It is the same lean, angular face that smiles down on you from a hundred advertising billboards in Belgium. He smiles now reflectively, getting the weeds out from between the roses. He is also Roger DeCoster, a man of considerable personal wit, charm, and intelligence. But there is always about him a certain tangible presence, that of a person who has achieved what nobody else has achieved on earth in this time period. Roger exudes a sense of confidence and a quie t competence that is taken for gran ted. DeCoster seems much larger than he actually is. He has a well-muscled, slim body and a way of moving that is always in perfect balance b.elying as'S", 150 Ib_ frame that would be inconsequential on many men. It is in the eyes that you can read much of Roger's public self. They blaze cold blue with competitive determination when he is on a motocross track - whether in actual competition or testing. If you look closely in the turns, Roger looks very fierce yet with an enigmatic tight-lipped killer grin like "I'm gonna get you because I know what I'm doing." Off the track, the eyes will crinkle in smiles at a joke or a humorous comment whether of his own making or by someone else. And the eyes always look directly at you whenever Roger talks to you. The eyes and the presence of the man demand your attention. DeCoster is, by no means, any ordinary professional motocross racer. That goes without saying in the competitive arena - ordinary motocrosser racers do not put together the savvy, skill, experience and luck to be World Champion three years running. He reminds you more of a continental-bred gentleman sportsman of good tastes. Don't interpret this that DeCoster is a dilettante who stumbled into the World Championship. Roger worked incredibly hard, using his body and brain to the limit, to get the Championship. Now that he has had it, he works very hard as a Champion. He has never forgotten that his contract is with Suzuki and that they pay him to race so they can sell motorcycles (It seems to work in Europe. Suzuki seems to be the largest selling street or trail two-stroke in Central Europe. I can attribu te it only to their marginally related World motocrob victories.)_ He is seldom unavai1able for a promotional shot when he is in the U.S. during the Trans AMA series. It is def"mitely, after winning the World Championship, more PR time than racing time for DeCoster. Besides, there is little left to prove and he, like most of the other GP riders, cannot take a chance on injury that would put them out for even part of next season. He is not dogging it. His personal make-up doesn't allow for that but neither is there any reason to expend the precious reserves of emotional and physical energy that are involved in going 100% for 90 minutes. UnHke too many of our heroes, Roger gets better the better you know him_ He is not a clod and he is able to speak inteUigently about subjects other than motocross. His business dealings and endorsemen ts are widespread bu t properly arranged and discreet. DeCoster knows his wines, which he chooses inteIHgently to accompany post-race meals. He seldom drinks, otherwise_ He admires and can recognize fine antiques and art - some of which are displayed casually in his large. comfortable home in Belgium. Roger is not a snob. He is one of the most approachable current World Champions in any major sport. Perhaps,

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