Troy Dog
Notice that this column now has a sponsor? That’s right! Troy Dog joined the Blu Cru and you should too! I have one in my garage right now and I can’t wait to go shred it! Thank you to Yamaha for believing in my ELITE columns on this dirt bike website enough to sponsor me. What a dream come true! BTW: Have you seen the all-new YZ450F? OH. MY. GOODNESS. I can’t wait to test that bad boy.
It’s been thirteen years since Terren O’Dell has ridden an outdoor national and he’s heading to Thunder Valley to race this weekend in the 450 class.
THIRTEEN YEARS.
O’Dell was once a standout in a very stacked group of prospects that some people call the “Golden Age” in amateur motocross. He had support from the powerhouse Rockstar Suzuki team for several years before turning pro with the help of the Rock River Yamaha team in 2010.
O’Dell raced the Nationals in 2010, but it didn’t go to his plan. He scored points in both motos at Freestone, but other than that it was rough. He didn’t turn any heads and O’Dell admitted that it smoked him mentally and physically. Going into SX for the 2012 season Terren gave his career one last go. He said that he sold everything that he could and had some help from Jim at Merge Racing to make the dream work.
The short version of that attempt in 2012 didn’t work out. Terren said that he made every night show with ease, but when it came time to race in those night shows he had so much pressure on himself, that it messed with him mentally.
“I didn’t feel like I belonged there,” O’Dell said. “I rode scared and I think I raced six rounds or so and then called it quits. At that point I said I was done. I had nothing left to give. My wife was pregnant and it was time to get a job that would provide consistent money to provide for my family.”
O’Dell didn’t touch a bike until 2020. Then he made Loretta Lynn’s in 2021 and finished sixth overall in the Junior (25+) class. It was fun for him to be back at the races and battle with Sean Lipanovich and Heath Harrison, which were guys he battled with back in the day.
So why would he want to race a pro national again at the ripe age of 31? He needed a challenge.
“Long story short it’s been in the back of my head since I started riding,” O’Dell said. “I’ve raced a few of the guys here and there to judge my speed a little bit. Everyone always tells me that I should go race a national, but I’m like I don’t know if I really want to suffer that much. It kind of sounds miserable, but also very challenging at the same time.”
O’Dell works 50-60 and is at a place in his life where he feels like he can make a run at a few of these nationals.
“I’m just doing this for myself and to have some fun, my wife thinks that I’m batshit crazy, but I truly believe I can put it on the gate and that’s the only goal. If I put it on the gate, I won.”
Good luck this weekend Terren and just know that there is a rather large group of people in the 25 and over age group that is really cheering for you!
