RIP, “Roger Decoster”RIP, “Roger Decoster”RIP, “Roger Decoster”on’t worry, he’s fine!
It’s just that he might be holding a generation-long grudge against us, and we feel like we need to set things right.
You know that thing where you’re buddies with Dave at work, and then one day you’re like, “Hey, Dave!” and he goes “Actually, my name is Burt,” and you realize you’ve been calling him Dave for nine years, and then you’re gripped by the urge to shame-vomit? This is kind of like that.
Since the very first issue of Racer X Illustrated, way back in 1998, we’ve referred to the legendary Belgian racer-turned-legendary manager known as The Man like this: Roger DeCoster. Chances are you probably refer to him that way too.
Roger De Coster.
Look at that. It seems unnatural, right? Like when you see a Berenstain Bears book and realize you’ve lived your entire life thinking it was spelled Berenstein. From that point on, your back is to the looking glass. Nothing can ever be the same again.
The thing is, we aren’t alone! A cursory internet search shows that almost every American publication uses the one-word spelling: Motocross Action, Cycle World, Transworld/Swapmoto—even Roger’s AMA Hall of Fame page lists him as “Roger DeCoster.” This mustn’t stand.
Let’s turn this mistake into a mistakortunity. If you’re a member of the U.S. moto press who spells his name DeCoster, it’s time to make amends. Let’s show The Man that his adopted homeland occasionally knows how to do the right thing. If it’s good enough for Robert De Niro and Cruella De Vil, it’s certainly good enough for Roger De Coster. Let’s all #embracethespace.