TODAY’S BIRTHDAY BOY: THE MAN WHO MADE THE SPORT BIG-TIME

Roger DeCoster.

Five-time 500 World Champion and former Honda and Suzuki team manager, Roger DeCoster’s was born on August 28, 1944. Roger DeCoster is often hailed as the greatest motocross racer of all time—not just for his fluid style, five World Championships and master racecraft, but because he was a personable and dignified ambassador for the sport.

Roger is called “The Man” because he was the most famous motocross racer at a time when the sport sold 1,000,000 dirt bikes a year (current sales figures are 1/10th of the 1970s numbers). Roger’s efforts raised the profile of motocross around the world. Today, Roger is the North American Motorsports director at KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas.

Roger Decoster will celebrate his 80th birthday on Wednesday, August 28. Photo by David Livingston.