Troy Dog
Notice that this column now has a sponsor? That’s right! Troy Dog joined the Blu Cru and you should too! Have you seen the new 2024 models with the special livery? Go look right now! It’s amazing.
The Troy Dog Squad ELITE Athlete Program is entering its fourth year already. Time flies when you’re having fun, right? We’ve already accomplished so much as a team, top tens in 250SX, 450SX, 450MX, a top ten in 450MX points, we’ve won LCQs, and WE even went to the Motocross of Nations for Team Guam. We’ve even had our dog nicknames on the TV broadcast! Yet, we have so much more left that we want to accomplish.
I always get asked what it takes to join our Squad and the answer is the same every time. We have to handpick you. You have to be an ELITE privateer, almost superhuman and you have to be in shape. Just last week I had Hunter Yoder wake up at 2 a.m. and run through a forest for ten miles, then he did a 16-hour bike ride through snow, and then we did motos. Are you cut out for that? He did it with a smile on his face because he understands the importance of the Squad. While I’d like to help all of you riders out in my Squad, we are jam packed for 2024. We’ve gone bigger than before and we’ve added a team manager to the mix to help out.
The Squad was created in 2021 to give a crew of privateers a place to have fun, help one another when needed, and to have the right attitude to succeed in the process. To date, every rider that has been a part of the program has put in their best results of their careers. I wish I could say that it was all my doing as I’ve been selective in my choices, but these guys all work so hard and have solid programs. I’m excited that they want to be a part of this.
Alright, let’s get into the riders that make this program what it is! We’ve got a total of six riders this year!
#23 Grant Harlan
Kona, Hawaii
Rock River Yamaha
The original Squad Athlete, Grant Harlan had quite the year to remember in 2023. He moved up to the 450 class full-time with help from the Rock River Yamaha team. From there he made 13 main events and had two top 10 finishes in SX, with a career best ninth in Denver. Then he moved onto Pro Motocross and put in four top 10 finishes on his way to 10th overall in points. He earned number 23 in the process. He’s back with the new look Gizmo Mods/Rock River Yamaha team for 2024. Har Dog will start the year injured, but will return mid SX season. We’re happy to have him aboard the program for the fourth year.
#53 Derek Kelley
Riverside, California
AEO Powersports KTM
Kelley is back with the Squad for his second season. Although he spent most of the Pro Motocross season injured and sick, the man they called DK Dog never gave up. That’s one of the things that we dig about this guy. He had a career best season in the 250SX West Region, with a sixth at the Glendale SX and ninth in overall points. Derek will start the season injured, but will return to SX quickly. He’ll be back racing the West Region and then move to the 450 outdoors for the AEO Powersports KTM team. We can’t wait to see the success that he’s going to have in 2024!
#66 Justin Starling
Riverview, Florida
JSR Motorsports Honda
Starling has returned to the Squad for his third season and we couldn’t be happier for this guy! He recently got married to his wife Nicole and the two are expecting a baby girl. Star Dog also has earned Honda support for the 2024 season, which is a brand that he had a lot of success on as an amateur. Starling is always in the hunt for the top 450SX privateer and he’s had three top tens in the past two seasons. He’ll get more this year. I’m looking forward to eating steak and lobster in his new rig this season.
#75 Marshal Weltin
Ubly, Michigan
Rock River Yamaha
Weltin is heading into his inaugural season with the Squad in 2024. I’ve gotten to know Marshal pretty well over the past two years with him riding for HEP Suzuki. Last year he didn’t have the year that he expected of himself. Early on during outdoors he blew out his ACL and meniscus and that was all she wrote. This year Marsh Dog will be riding the 250SX East Region and 450MX with the Gizmo Mods/Rock River Yamaha team. We’ll be helping him rebuild along the way! Welcome to the team!
#85 Hunter Yoder
Menifee, California
Partzilla PRMX Race Team
Yoder joins the team for his first full season after signing on for the World Supercross Championship with us. Now that he’s here, well, he’s not ever allowed to leave (unless a factory team picks him up of course). YoDog is already a fan favorite and he’s only beginning his career. He signed a two-year deal with the Partzilla/PRMX team and he’ll be racing the 250SX West Region and possibly some Canadian MX. We’re looking forward to watching Yoder progress into the top ten in 2024.
#866 Ashton Bloxom
Terrell, Texas
Bloxom Construction
Ashton Bloxom returns to the Squad in his fourth year with us. We signed him mid-week at Loretta Lynn’s in 2021 like Star Racing would do. Since then Bloxom has fought through some very bad shoulder injuries, but he made his pro debut in 2023. He made the motos at Thunder Valley and it was a very proud day for all of us. Ashton will be back racing Pro Motocross this summer and he will come in with more experience. We’re gonna crush. We’ve always got a place on our team for Ash Doggy.
#360 Denny Stephenson
Squad Team Manager
Des Moines, Iowa
1990 125 East Region Supercross Champion
I can’t handle six riders alone, so I’ve enlisted the help of one of my best buddies in the world, Denny Stephenson to help me this season. The kids on the team are going to need to do some history homework to truly understand the knowledge that Denny brings to the table. He’s seen it all in this sport in many different aspects. He’s the go to guy for advice, line selection, and race strategy. I’ve been doing great so far, but this guy has more knowledge in his throttle hand than I do in general. We’re lucky to have his help this season.
Thanks for the support of the Squad program. It seems like it’s truly grown very popular this past season and I thank all of you for being a part of it. Let’s do some work and keep building! Follow all of us on social media and get involved by commenting and reaching out. We love to hear from you.
Viva la Squad!
