The 2012 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, which took place in Lommel during the 30th September weekend, was a special edition which will always be present in the history of the sport. It will be remembered as the year Germany won the Chamberlain Trophy and broke the winning streak of team USA on the same soil where Team USA won their first MXoN back in 1981.

For Roger De Coster it was even more special because he was travelling back home representing Team USA, but he also had in mind his performance in 1981 when he could not win the Chamberlain Trophy and the Americans started adding victories to their records. Besides, a very special surprise was awaiting De Coster at his arrival in Lommel.

Roger De Coster was reunited with one of his winning bikes almost 30 years after he obtained his fifth 500cc World Title and the Belgian motocross legend was very pleased for being able to invite the members of Team USA to see the bike and check all the small details with them.

It was 1976 and The Man Roger De Coster had just won his 5th world 500cc World Title. De Coster had made the Suzuki the bike to beat during the 1970s and the open class factory bike was now built to his spec. He had tested and developed it into a state of the art 500, which was lighter better handling and more compact than ever before.

For 1977 Suzuki went into overdrive with a super light thin walled chrome moly frame – strengthened at key points. Super light magnesium triple clamps held in place one piece factory billet aluminium forks with thin wall sliders and air assistance- the forks having more travel than ever before. These were backed up by Billet dual reservoir rear Kayaba Shocks at the back.
The Motor was the fastest open class Suzuki motor to date with sand cast magnesium cases. The wheels and hubs were all very special too with sandcast hubs complete with brass wear ring on lightweight factory rims. The DeCoster DNA is visible throughout the bike the Aluminium rear brake lever with titanium pivot bolt, the tuned Aluminium exhaust and the design in progress High quality aircraft quality aluminium swinging arm. All the fasteners are titanium and no parts are interchangeable with the production bike RM 250 or 370. Even the handlebars are one off bars created by the factory for RD.

Photo: Roger De Coster and Gary Cartmell with the 1977 Suzuki RN 500 in Lommel

Read the next news: The 2012 FIM World Champions awarded in Monaco (03 Dec 2012)

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