Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126300
NATIONAL MIN ICYCLE ASSOCIAT ION 115tupid crash"· DeCoster By Chris Myers Five-time Wo rld Motocross Champion R oger DeCost er, in a Belgium -hospital recovering f rom his pratice crash, spoke ex clusively to Chris My ers o England 's M otor Cycle on February f 17, j ust days af ter his near fatal ac ciden t . Th is was the firs t in terview he granted f ollowing th e incid ent. "It was just a stupid crash . I wasn 't even going fast ," said Roger in Belgium on Friday. " I hit a tree and I could feel something explode inside m e. I was losing blood really fast and I thought I wou ld die. The blood was coming out so fast that when I go t to th e hospit al th ey cou ld n' t pump it in fast enough. T hey gave m e six litres, I was nearly empty. " W hen th ey opera ted, t hey took out my sp leen and d id some other things inside." DeCoster said he fel t " p retty good considering- all t hat has happened to me" and expect ed to be in the Hartkliniek for a fu rther two weeks or so . "W ith in two months I hope I can do some exercises a n d things ." Would he be able to race aga in this year?" " I t hin k so." In Grand Pr ix ? "Yes, I don 't see why not. " Dociors sa id a t first that th ey doubt ed you woul d ride aga in this year . let alone be back into top competi tion . " I was pretty b ad . But the doctor says now he is surprised at the speed of my recovery." . How will this crash affect his anno uncement earlier this month that he would ret ire if he won the World Championshi p or if he lost it badly?" I really don't know. I don't think a bou t tha t. Eve n th e doctors aren't su re about the im media te fut ure so fa r as raci ng is co nce rned. I h a ve bee n th rou gh a lot a nd I'm gra teful for get ting thro ugh it. " How a bou t his wife Laurie ? " O h , she was pretty worried first of all of course, just after it ha ppe ne d and for the first cou ple of d ays. But now she knows I'm going to be alright and she's just looking after our child . She's fine now. " Was th er e something wrong with his bike? " I have been trying different types of shocks. I was riding round and .1 just fell off and the tree just happened to be there . The bik e didn't hit J the tree or any th ing , but I hit it with m y chest. ' " I was practi cing with Sylvain ,Geboers and he picked me up a nd brought me back on th e track. and he took me straight to the doctor. After the doctor we wen t to the hospita l. The bike just sort of ju m ped and I fell off. It was JUSt a stupid crash." • What's happening? CALENDAR ' dIII III 3350 West Highway 1J Inc. Portorml'" Dmribuling. Burnsvin,. MinnesotJ 55337 Phono: (6121890-5541 - MAJOR MIDWEST DISTRIBUTOR FOR: Bel-Ray Oil Yokohama Tires Scott USA Mikuni Carbs. S & WShocksand Springs Clarke Replica Tanks POliS THESUSPENSION SPECIALIST FOR 7 8. DEALERS WRITE FOR YOUR YOUR PRO DUCT-FILLED CATALOG . HUSaVARNA CLEARANCE SALE th. I woutd lih to ac:Jdrea mesuge . nd deaktra of the following brwMb. J to me rld-. SUZUKI: The 2 new modeis of RM 250'. are the finest Suzukis lWfIl' made end . . probably the best 2 atrok. racers in the worl d today. HON DA: You Honda people have complained for years 7 5, 76, '77 models must go immediately to make room for '78 models. Prices reduced to sell fast while they last. Any reasonable offer accepted. T&OYamaha 24020 Narbonne Ave. Lomita, CA 90717 213-534-2311 (To rrance-Red o n d o area) about not having • racer • wen, the CR 250' 1 are greet and they are dIrI cheap - there . e thousands of used ones around. if vou C81'W'M)f afford . new 008. CA N AM : This is the rn<* pawerluI 250 engi ne gotng . They are the resu h of ...... of povwer development and ere made riRm ne llt door. KAWASAKI: The KX 2SO Kawasaki haa the Mrgest tr. . . teo port area of the new generlJ60n of bikes end hes _ tremendous PQlen l'at _. _ winl"lfW. I did nol men tion Yameha. Harley Oevidaon , Bul18cO or Ossa beca use we _lread y know they 81'8 proven winners. Any of these 8 engines are ready and wi lling 10 win _ National Championship. What I am trying 10 Ny fa- let', ge l 10 ~k . I for one am tired of seeing1 or 2 brenda win IN"" nroe, aran ', you ? H I letl out your brand , don 't despair, there are 4 more just ... good 81 thole noted. • • •& • • • 24 15 Brown Rd., St. Louis. Mo. 63 114 Phone 314/426-6959 or call Charley Chapple 3131735-5453 9