by Adam Wheeler
Insight: Roger DeCoster
Monday, September 19, 2011 | 4:30 PM
Since 1990, the driving force for Allsport Dynamic’s products has come from the physically demanding sport of motocross. From the entire Allsport team, comes a true commitment to helping others and a dedication to make the best products possible in both design and function.
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“The Man” continues to weave his magic wand over Team USA like some sort of moto-Dumbledore. At St Jean d’Angely, his advice to a young team and guidance of rookie Blake Baggett again helped the reigning champs overcome the odds.
Racer X: Roger, it seems like these events don’t get any easier on the nerves.
Roger DeCoster: No! For the last couple of years it has been close, and last year we were seven points behind going into the last race, and this time it was nine. The good thing about the American riders is that they never give up and they work really well together. I think that is one of the biggest assets for the team. We have crews around with a lot of experience, and everybody takes care of his job. This is what makes us strong and still able to win when it is not looking so good. We will probably get beaten sometime, but it is seven years in a row now, and it would be nice to get up near the first string and manage thirteen.
Could you believe what you saw on Saturday with the guys going 1-1-1? You then warned against complacency in the press conference afterward.
Things went perfectly on Saturday, but that’s what I said in these kinds of sports it can turn around really quick. Our riders are normally very good with starts but that didn’t happen in the first two races. I think Villopoto was twenty-fifth out of the second turn and came all the way back to third place. It was pretty amazing what he did on a track that was not easy to pass [on]. It was wide but there was only one good racing line. He was the one that carried us.
DeCoster once again helped lead Team USA to victory at the Motocross of Nations.
Photo: Ray Archer
When the rain came down last night, what was going through your mind?
I thought that the rain would be better than watering the track. The way the conditions were on Saturday, there were really slick spots, and if they had put water on it in the typical way, then we would have had a mix of dry areas and mud areas. I think it would have been worse than today, actually.
You must get asked every year, but how would you rank this winning team compared to previous groups? Is there one characteristic that stands out?
We have been spoiled, because we have had so many good teams and our riders have been very resilient. For me, with Villopoto today, that was one of the top comeback races. You have to rank it with the very best. With the track conditions not in our favor and the design being something that they are not used to … they learned to adapt and come out good. To rank them is difficult. Definitely a good lineup, but we have had a lot of those!
DeCoster and the rest of Team USA celebrate in France.
Photo: Ray Archer
The technical rules had some small changes. How did that affect things?
The rules of the two series are coming closer together. We were allowed to use the same fuel as in the U.S., and next season we will go to the FIM system for the sound control. I think it is good. And the manufacturers wanted to have the same rules on both sides of the ocean, and it makes the whole thing easier.
European race fans might continually see your job as something relatively easy with the embarrassment of riches you have to choose from. Or is it tricky to narrow down the best selection?
This year it was quite easy because the two Ryans were above the lot in the 450 Class, and with the Lites we picked the first guy that was American, and this time we had to look at third place, which was unusual. Blake is young, so it wasn’t so easy because he doesn’t have that much experience. This was the first time he raced outside of the United States, but on Saturday he was fantastic and really picked up his level. That was the best I’ve seen him ride. On Sunday he struggled to adapt to the different conditions. There is no track in the U.S. where there are that many rocks and that kind of soil, and at the same time the elevation changes were also more frequent than quite a few places in the U.S.
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WOW lots of pease fro RV... As well there should be!!
Praise for RV LOL
hey billc, i was just wondering, how many hours a day do you spend on racerx?
DeCoster is a MX living legend- what he says is truth.
He didn't mention RD at all, and we still haven't seen an official release from KTM, I wonder if it's all good. Dungey went 3-2, pretty damn good to me...
" I think Villopoto was twenty-fifth out of the second turn and came all the way back to third place. It was pretty amazing what he did on a track that was not easy to pass [on] " - Roger D
There you go folks who were doggin' RV for getting beat by Roczen on the 250.
Where is the OFFICAIL PR on Dungey. HE is fully KTM from today. I heard his bed sheets are orange too.
Roczen did not beat RV, if fact the blocker was passed and punted by RV coming from 25th place start. The Man knows a ride when he sees one and he sure did like what Poto did those motos. Roczen did beat Dungey however.
@Metta - now that you mention it...There didnt seem to be many Dungey / DeCoster moments via video or photograph from what I have seen.... Roger states above that RV was the one who carried the team.....But it could be nothing really...Roger D probabaly told Dungey to keep the distance since nothing is official yet and people dont talk favorites and al that.....after watching the MX1/MX3 final moto...It was cool to see RV and Dungey celebrate...they were stoked and kept high fiving and hugging....the some dude tried to pick up Dungeys bike or something.....last time RD sits on a suzuki is probably that photo above!!
jairtime, Villopoto is too smart to do something crazy like that!
i no they don't run Broome anymore, but was this track rockier and would us [USA] running Broome have helped?
When the "Man" speaks he does so with much thought. I promise you he is the smartest man in the racing world. I have respected him for 41 years.
dungey signed with pro circuit last week thats why he was at mitches trailer after pala
That ia a little strange that he doesn't even mention Dungey, and that he said RV "was the one that carried us". They both did very well, a 3-1 and a 3-2 are pretty damn close. I would say they both shouldered most of the load!!
@jairtime KTM is leading in GP's and its only a matter of time before they do in USA.
Have to say tho I dont own a KTM. Rode a 350 and 450 and never felt comfortable but im sure their factory bikes are different.
Well.. Once KTM is winning in the US... And once RV knows how much Dungey is getting as a base salary.. (which will put his base salary to shame)... RV will think twice before saying something stupid.. Kawi for life.. ha,ha...
Japanese are not known for giving the best salaries... And knowing the state of the economy... Try to convi ce a jap bureaucrate to cough up so many millions to a motorcross rider... And convince him how on earth will they recoup it in sales? Whahaha... Thank goodness I never worked for a japanese firm...
@whatever.. I think Rodgers point is that RV gave up the good gate pick both moto's, In his first moto he started WAY back and if he was unable to pass so many guys we might have lost... SO I think Rodger is right RV saved the day and was the leader of the Team. Not that RD did not do GREAT but RV just did more.
I agree with BillC, RV giving up those gate picks and accomplishing what he did is a one off situation and Roger knew it. Starting 25th and passing all those riders and almost winning the moto was amazing. In the last 25 years only 3 riders have had the quick pass ability consistently with the best competition. RC JS RV
I don't know about Mc he never gated worse then 3rd. LOL
In MOto 2 Villopoto was around 7th or 8th after the first lap, his lap times were slower than Hearling's and Paulin's, sometimes the same, he started to push hard towards the end of the moto. Roczen had a problem with his roll off, from the 2nd or 3rd lap, together with a physical problem. This is just to clarify the whole matter to the people who didn't watch the races, I watched them 3 times.
I don't really understand why everyone thinks that if Dungey goes to KTM that it would be so bad. I've owned bikes from all of the big 5, and my KTM was awesome. It was fast and reliable, and had great components. My only complaint was the turning wasn't as nice as some of the Japanese bikes. KTM has the best team manager so you know it will be a tight ship and Dungey will get good bikes. If you think reliability is an issue I would point to all the mechanical issues Dungey has had since Roger left Suzuki, also look at Honda this year. KTM hasn't had those problems. Some people say look at Andrew Short and Mike Alessi's results. I say they are right where they would be regardless of what brand/size bike they ride. Lastly KTM makes one of the fastest 450's out. I think moving to KTM and teaming up with DeCoster again is a smart move for Dungey.
Also, Euromike is a tool!
RIGHT ON NikolaTesla, People are living in the past when it comes to KTM. There a TOP notch team for sure.
@NikolaTesla... KTM has to rebuild their reputation outside Europe...
Remember riding their 250 of 91 & 92... Even my RM125 back then would kick their ass... But they were comfy bikes... (Must admit this)
And for the longest of times... Anti japs riders, kept the market going for KTM.
White Power suspensions sucked big times (small Dutch company who thought they were better than KYB & Showa, A good thing they were absorbed by KTM later on)... Then begin 2000... KTM tried to re-invent something which needn't to be invented with their weird geometrical chassis and horror of suspension...
Only since 2010 (In my opinion).. Their bikes are on a par of superior (Pending what you prefer) than the japanese counterparts.
Here I am refering to motorcross.. Enduro bikes is an entire different matter.
KTM has come a long way.. And I applaud their marketing efforts and their management turning things around.
They are now by far the best selling manufacturer in Europe.. Only market they have to take on is the USA..
Knowing the slow japanese way of doing things.. And the slow to bad economy we live in... That will eventually do KTM favours to be the best selling bike in a matter of yrs, worldwide (Dirtbikes).
And i am a Honda fan as my bikes are all Honda.. ha,ha
@jairtime... Exactly! One thing is for sure.. They did good in hiring DeCoster.. And giving some freedom on how to do things. ( I always fear that KTM, like many European companies are just over staffed of managers..)
Got off their slogan.. 350 is the way to go... yeah.. Maybe for the average individual like me.. But not in SX nor MX.
No disrespect to Alessi & Short.. But these guys are not really the heavy hitters when it comes to riders.
However, I do hope Short comes back on KTM as he is a genuinly good guy.. And deserves at least some success.
It's basically a done deal, KTM & Dungey... And what I hear... He's getting a record salary.. KTM was bent on getting him.
5 mil for 2 years right?
It's like no one from KTM can even say Dungey's name, not on the record anyway. There must be some pretty tight legal language somewhere. I'll be glad when they just make it official and get it over with. He'll need every day he can get between now and A1.
Looking forward to seeing how all the other cards fall, too. Canard and RV are about the only ones that are staying the same on the 450s for sure.
Here is my 2 cents worth on KTM I know tey want to win that is why tey got Roger. Now with Dungey and I think he knows how to test unlike some riders that dont even know how to change a spark plug. This I do know in the mid 70's one of my racing friends gotan offer from KTM to go to Europe to test and race it did help that he was a wrench at a bike shop not a KTM shop. He spent 9 month over there came backwith a KTM 125 and 250 both were not what was stock but vastly improved. I think this in 1976? The point being is KTM has been in this a long time and I think they are gonna make it in the States yet.
I am trying to get healed up and get to where I can work on my bikes again, sell one of my Harley's and wanna get a KTM to run around on and do some backroad riding. That is why I asked BillC about KTM's on the street. Doc says I cant Dirt Bike anymore , what the heck deos he know????
RV2 (1 now) WILL RUN MX2 AT MXdN NEXT YEAR if Stewart races mx and all stay healthy, because he is the only racer in the world (planet is used up) that can beat all the 450s on a 250. Maybe FIM will make him ride a 2 stroke to make it more competive.
Oooops RV over 23. My bad
@BillC... More than that... Cairoli is presumably getting 3 per annum (some italian magasines even suggest more.. But yeah... Italians like to blow up figures).. Excluding his bonus's & other sponsors he has.
remember back in the day... RC was getting in his last stint at Suzuki, 3,3 per year.. And he set the bar...
Roger the Man was at the races and he is with KTM but said RV carried the team and was the stud accomplishing that ride on bad gate carrying the team. Anyone want to dispute Roger? LOL
I'm not sure why people keep talking about how they have ridden/owned KTMs and they are awesome and correlate that into Dungey being able to beat RV on one. Unless any of you run Dungey's pace....then it might have some bearing. I'll repeat this, if RV is not out there, Dungey can win a title (outdoors) on a KTM. Taking on RV though? These guys certainly try the bikes out before they sign, problem being they have no idea how it will stack up against their top rival until they get out there. MC thought he was good to go on his KTM until he hit the race and got smoked. Certainly Reed took a look at KTM last year and he passed, when he had nowhere else to go. This doesn't mean KTMs suck...it just means that at the factory level the big bikes remain unproven in the US and Dungey is taking a pretty big risk by going there. I'm rooting for him to do well though, so I hope he proves me wrong. I definitely want to see another year like this again, not an RV rout.
RV was 6th on the first lap. I think it shows the depth of the field compared to the nationals. The same for Dungey, got beaten by a 250cc. Not much hype around that.
Suzuki officially retired, Reed hired Goose. Probably Yoshimura will keep managing the 450cc machines. Stewart probably moves to Suzuki.
First, is The Man a U.S. citizen?
I would like to personally thank Roger DeCoster for championing our Motocross of Nations teams for so long. It seems every year he take our young talent who battle each other, week in and week out, and coach them to work together as a team for the glory or their country.
Think about it.......this year, he didn't even have any of his own employers riders on the team but it didn't matter, he just keeps on giving.
Regardless of who your favorite rider is, we should all acknowledge the the significant, historical contribution that this champion of champions has made to the greatness of this sport. Whether Yank or Euro, Kiwi or Aussie, all of us riders and fans owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the racing and coaching history of the Belgium. We should thank the MotoGods that when he chose to emigrate, he chose these shores.
Now about MXoN: this fans perspective.
Love it long time! I feel for the French after winning a moto and seeing a speedy CP pass our #1 They must be hoarse with deserved national pride.
I want that Russian "Bobo" in our series, indoors and out. I want to teach the kids about the cold war, create some nationalistic controversy, and see "Bobo" vs. "Bubba"
But my true love, since he dissapeared in both motos from the fastest riders in the known universe, and made history doing it on a lites bike at MXoN 07
Will always be
Your new #1 RV