He first contested the Paris-Dakar in 1997, becoming only the second British rider to finish the three-week, 7,000-mile event across Africa on a motorcycle.
Within two years, and still funding his own participation, he claimed his country's best finish of sixth, beaten by five riders who enjoyed substantial financial backing.
The dangers of the sport were highlighted in the 2000 event, run in reverse from Senegal to Egypt, when he was offered a ride for the BMW Gauloises team but crashed on the fifth day, fracturing his pelvis and wrist, as well as dislocating his shoulder.
On 8 August 2001, on the seventh stage, Deacon fell heavily on rocks 77 miles from the town of Palmyra in Syria.
Fellow rider Patrick Lambin found Deacon, who had sustained head injuries.