8: Roger DeCoster
5-time 500cc World Champion (1971-1973 and 1975-1976)- 4-time Trans-AMA Champion (1974-1977)
- 6-time Motocross des Nations Champion
- The Man
Roger DeCoster is “The Man” for a reason. He’s the single biggest reason why motocross took off in the USA in the first place. Back in the 1970s, Americans couldn’t even think about beating the European racers, and most of that was because of Roger DeCoster. DeCoster won most of his races for Suzuki (and all of his championships), but he actually won his last-ever 500cc GP, in Luxembourg in 1980, on a Honda, after spending 9 years racing for Suzuki. He went out on top with a 1-1 that day, then never raced again. After that, he became a coach/team manager type for factory Honda before quitting that gig to promote some Glen Helen MXGPs and then return to team management at Suzuki, where he eventually discovered one Ryan Dungey, who followed him to KTM a few years later. DeCoster still manages the Red Bull KTM team, and he manages Team USA almost every year at the Motocross of Nations as well. He’s 72 years old now, and he’s probably still faster than you.
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