Comments on: Roger DeCoster: “The Man” for all Seasons (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Sun, 19 May 2013 20:34:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Rob Blais http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-25693 Rob Blais Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:53:47 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-25693 I had the opportunity to meet "the man" several years ago, while in the pits at the Steel City motocross. Jeremy McGrath was riding a Suzuki that year. I took my son over and asked McGrath for an autograph. He said to see him after the races. This had happened numerous times over the previous two or three years. As we were walking away, I heard an accented voice saying "excuse me sir," and i looked over my shoulder to see Mr. DeCoster looking at me. i asked if it was I that he was talking to, he invited me back to speak to me. He said he'd seen what happened, and was aware that it had happened before. He apologized on behalf of Suzuki, and the entire motocross community. He signed a program and my son's arm. He was utterly gracious and charming. A gentleman. I don't believe that Jeremy rode Suzukis after that year, either. He was cooler than Steve McQueen. I had the opportunity to meet “the man” several years ago, while in the pits at the Steel City motocross. Jeremy McGrath was riding a Suzuki that year. I took my son over and asked McGrath for an autograph. He said to see him after the races. This had happened numerous times over the previous two or three years. As we were walking away, I heard an accented voice saying “excuse me sir,” and i looked over my shoulder to see Mr. DeCoster looking at me. i asked if it was I that he was talking to, he invited me back to speak to me. He said he’d seen what happened, and was aware that it had happened before. He apologized on behalf of Suzuki, and the entire motocross community. He signed a program and my son’s arm. He was utterly gracious and charming. A gentleman. I don’t believe that Jeremy rode Suzukis after that year, either. He was cooler than Steve McQueen.

Report this comment

]]> By: Joe Paden http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-25072 Joe Paden Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:01:30 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-25072 Ok Dave, so I was off a year... I am getting old and have crashed too many times to be accurate! Anyway, The Man was tough! Ok Dave, so I was off a year… I am getting old and have crashed too many times to be accurate! Anyway, The Man was tough!

Report this comment

]]> By: Dave Duffin http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24875 Dave Duffin Sat, 09 Jul 2011 06:00:49 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24875 Note to Joe P. De Coster crashed the year after this race at Carnegie. He was airlifted to a Livermore, Ca hospital. I took a bus load of kids for that race (40) and one of them got lost too!! He was hanging out with the medevac pilot and got a ride in the helo with RDC. Because of the horrible face plant crash, the next year Roger raced with the first full coverage helmet (Bell Moto-Star) and thus took away a lot of business from the dentists of North America for the last 40 years. Note to Joe P. De Coster crashed the year after this race at Carnegie. He was airlifted to a Livermore, Ca hospital. I took a bus load of kids for that race (40) and one of them got lost too!! He was hanging out with the medevac pilot and got a ride in the helo with RDC.

Because of the horrible face plant crash, the next year Roger raced with the first full coverage helmet (Bell Moto-Star) and thus took away a lot of business from the dentists of North America for the last 40 years.

Report this comment

]]> By: John Carlson http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24785 John Carlson Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:46:46 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24785 Great read! Dave, your encouragement and motivating guidance for the kids over the last 40 years deserves a gold medal. Great read! Dave, your encouragement and motivating guidance for the kids over the last 40 years deserves a gold medal.

Report this comment

]]> By: suki http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24747 suki Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:29:27 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24747 great read, thanks Dave! great read, thanks Dave!

Report this comment

]]> By: Brent Meeker http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24656 Brent Meeker Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:08:55 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24656 DeCoster and I are around the same age - I'm five years older. I bought my first motocross bike in 1968. I raced against Joel Robert at the Viewfinders GP in 1969 when DeCoster and the CZ team, and Torsten Hallman on his Husky, were over showing us Americans how it was done. It was my second race. Robert lapped me TWICE. I never became a motocross star, but I did beat John DeSoto in a moto in Austin when I was in graduate school. Those were the days my friend. DeCoster and I are around the same age – I’m five years older. I bought my first motocross bike in 1968. I raced against Joel Robert at the Viewfinders GP in 1969 when DeCoster and the CZ team, and Torsten Hallman on his Husky, were over showing us Americans how it was done. It was my second race. Robert lapped me TWICE. I never became a motocross star, but I did beat John DeSoto in a moto in Austin when I was in graduate school. Those were the days my friend.

Report this comment

]]> By: Jack http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24603 Jack Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:25:44 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24603 Awesome article, thanks. Awesome article, thanks.

Report this comment

]]> By: Metri3 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24374 Metri3 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:43:31 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24374 Before it was called a crossup it was called a DeCoster. Jeese I'm getting old. Man! Before it was called a crossup it was called a DeCoster. Jeese I’m getting old. Man!

Report this comment

]]> By: Joe Paden http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24366 Joe Paden Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:03:00 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24366 I was also at the race mentioned in this article ands was a teenager. I saw the crash and, as I remember, the triple clamp failed when he landed off the fastest jump on the track. The fornt end of his bike separated from the frame.. My friend Phil Evard, yelled out, "Roger DeCoster is dead..!" since it looked really bad. Of course he was premature... We immediately snuck into the pits and I actually helped his wife into the box van to get ice and a towel for his face which was cut up pretty bad. He waited until the race was over to go to the hospital because he did not want the race to be blackflagged since they couldn't have continued if the ambulance was gone. I could not agree more, DeCoster is "The Man" and has class beyond the rest of us. He is also pretty tough.. I was also at the race mentioned in this article ands was a teenager. I saw the crash and, as I remember, the triple clamp failed when he landed off the fastest jump on the track. The fornt end of his bike separated from the frame.. My friend Phil Evard, yelled out, “Roger DeCoster is dead..!” since it looked really bad. Of course he was premature… We immediately snuck into the pits and I actually helped his wife into the box van to get ice and a towel for his face which was cut up pretty bad. He waited until the race was over to go to the hospital because he did not want the race to be blackflagged since they couldn’t have continued if the ambulance was gone. I could not agree more, DeCoster is “The Man” and has class beyond the rest of us. He is also pretty tough..

Report this comment

]]> By: Gary http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/roger-decoster-%e2%80%9cthe-man%e2%80%9d-for-all-seasons/comment-page-1/#comment-24363 Gary Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:27:58 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=16288#comment-24363 I would follow motocross coverage avidly as a teen, and Roger was always in the limelight. He projected then what he projects now: professionalism and class. The true test of a champ is not how he wins. It is how he loses, gracefully, without stumbling over a bruised ego. Roger was always tops, even when he wasn't winning. Nice story. Good luck at KTM, Roger. I would follow motocross coverage avidly as a teen, and Roger was always in the limelight. He projected then what he projects now: professionalism and class. The true test of a champ is not how he wins. It is how he loses, gracefully, without stumbling over a bruised ego. Roger was always tops, even when he wasn’t winning.

Nice story.

Good luck at KTM, Roger.

Report this comment

]]>