DeCouto’s dilemma after Daytona deaths

Motorcycle champion Paul DeCouto is weighing up his future in the sport.

The 43-year-old was crowned 2013 American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Pro Expert Superstock USA Grand National Champion at the weekend — a fine achievement in a sport that is both expensive and dangerous.

However, the Daytona meet was marred by the deaths of two riders during last Thursday’s track day.

And DeCouto admitted thoughts of his young son, plus the need to devote more time to his Cycle Care business, which he part-owns, means there are now decisions to be made.

Instructor Rick Shaw, 65, was ‘T-boned’ by student Eric Desy, 45, on the  Daytona rack and DeCouto told the Bermuda Sun: “They both got thrown off their bikes. Desy died on the spot and Shaw died in hospital. I didn’t see it happen but it put a dark cloud over the whole event.”

Despite the fatal crash, DeCouto went ahead and, as usual, competed hard at the Daytona Race of Champions XXX in Florida.

“It’s very difficult to get that out of your mind,” he said. “I have a four-year-old son so to block it out of your mind is almost impossible. I want my son to have a dad in his life. That makes you weigh up your options.”

He added: “I want to do things with him. Every time I fall off it hurts a little bit more, when you are younger you just get straight back up!

“I lift him and I get shoulder pain still from a crash that happened one and half months ago. It’s okay but a little uncomfortable still.”

The success of his business in these tough economic times also weighs heavily on the speed merchant’s mind.

He said: “I am going to think about it [my future] over the winter. It’s a huge expense and spending is tight because of the economy.

“I’m definitely going to have to put more time into Cycle Care and possibly continue motorcyling as a hobby. It takes a lot to go for a national title and to and compete over a whole season. 

“There’s a lot of people involved in Cycle Care — it’s not just about me racing bikes.”

DeCouto’s season finale was irrelevant to the final championship placings, having wrapped up first spot in the previous race.

He came a respectable ninth despite fighting clutch problems, which meant he was forced to limp home.

“I was pushing to get in second and it was at that point the clutch started to slip and people started coming past me.

“I was lucky to even cross the finish line — when I finished I was going just 50mph. The finish is a long straight-away with riders going around 250mph. I had to squeeze on the side of the track so I wasn’t a slow moving target.”

DeCouto, with gear issues and often going up against more powerful bikes, also managed the following finishes at Daytona: sixth in the Expert GTO; fourth in the Expert SuperSport Unlimited; ninth in the Expert SuperSport Heavyweight; sixth in the Expert Formula 40; 11th in the Expert Grand Prix Unlimited; 13th in the Expert Super Bike Unlimited.

“It’s been a long season,” he said. “It’s a challenge and it’s hard to make every race, there’s engine issues and crashes. There’s a lot of adrenaline and a lot of preparation.”