Where Are They Now: Todd DeHoop
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DeHoop had a stellar amateur career that peaked in 1985 with a win in the 250 A class at Loretta Lynn’s. After eleven years aboard Yamaha machinery, he switched to the potent Suzuki RM125 and competed for the 125 East championship, coming up just short in ’87 to Ron Tichenor and Keith Turpin. He would return a year later as a factory rider and win the title in 1988.
Todd’s professional career came to a crossroads of sorts as he graduated to the premier supercross division and lost his factory status. His new contract was merely a support deal with virtually no safety net in the event that he struggled. He didn’t have the best of year in 1989 and found himself on the budget chopping block at the conclusion of the racing season. “Nineteen-ninety through ‘92 were some tough years,” Todd explains. “At one point, I found myself asking myself if I should keep racing.”
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Todd’s career got a much-needed boost, and soon he was riding strong and putting in some impressive finishes. One of the highlights of this time period came at the muddy 1995 Dallas Supercross, where he pulled the holeshot and led more than half the race. Todd recalls, “I thought I had that one. I was way out in the lead, but I tensed up and stopped doubling a few things. Right then, Henry started tripling a few things and I faded to fifth.”
Then Todd ran into another crossroads of sorts. He had lost the ability to run at the front of supercross races and began looking at the arenacross series. Meanwhile, Honda of Troy had grown exponentially, and with Todd looking for a ride for the arenacross series, he and Phil got together once again to form Yamaha of Troy.
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But as the story tends to go with motocross, a big injury was right around the corner, and with it came the end of his career. Todd shattered his leg at the Battle Creek Arenacross and decided to hang it up and focus on a different career and his family.
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It isn’t all dance recitals quite yet for DeHoop, as he still keeps a couple bikes in the garage. “I’ve been taking karate classes with a buddy of mine to stay in shape,” he explains. “We spar at the gym all the time. I can get on my bike and do 30-minute motos no problem now…. It’s funny, about a month ago there was a big money race here at a local track and a bunch of the fast teenage kids were there. I went out and smoked them and they were all pissed at me! I just told them not to forget that the old man still has it.”
Keep an eye out for Todd DeHoop at Loretta Lynn’s 2007.