Terry Tenette


Terry "Mr. T" Tenette is a professional Cyclist Road biking /Gravel road racing/mountain biking BMX|Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1987 to 2010. Tenette also competed and was a team member of the USA Olympic velodrome team 2002 to 2004 as an Olympic alternate for the Athens Olympics finishing second place at the Olympic trials which was not good enough to go to Athens. Tenette continued racing World Cup Velodrome until 2008 and then switch back to mountain biking. Tenette also competed on the Ritchey mountain bike team as an R&D specialist being sent to Taiwan/ Philippines testing products.
2009 to 2015 California downhill mountain bike champion Northstar resort tahoe N V. state finals. Tenette inducted into the cycling Hall of Fame June 2016. Tenette can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram posting videos from Championship races. He has also has an assortment of memorabilia collectibles for order in 2019. Tenette also works as a health consultant for Stanford university hospitals contractor. Tenette was briefly married in 2016.Tenette 2020 post covid-19 pandemic shut down. Transitioning business platform to online video health and wellness Consulting which seems to be the norm with social distancing with hundreds of gym closures online training is now the new #-Norm. Facebook/Instagram Health and Wellness all ages and lives matter.
His nickname "Mr. T" is an allusion to the alliteration of his given and family name, both starting with the letter "T". It is also an incidental reference to the American actor with the stage name "Mr. T" who played a character on the popular 1980s American television show The A-Team, Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus.

Racing career milestones

Note: All first in Pro Class are on the national level unless otherwise noted.
Started Racing: July 24, 1978 Introduced to the sport by a friend named Greg Hill. NOT the BMX racer but a childhood friend. Mr. Tenette raced at the Fred Watson Park track in San Jose, California
Sanctioning Body:
Sanctiong body district: American Bicycle Association California 15 ; CA-19
First race result: First place in 9 novice.
First win : See above.
First sponsor: Jack's Cyclery; Woodside Bicycle Shop.
First national win:
Turned professional: November 1987 Age 19.
First Professional race result: First place in "A" pro at the 1987 American Bicycle Association Grand Nationals on November 29 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He won US$800, or the equivalent of US$1,448.59 in 2007. He also won Pro Cruiser, winning US$330 and came in sixth in Pro Open, winning US$150.
First Professional win: See above:
First Junior Pro* race result: See above
First Junior Pro win: See above
First Senior Pro** race result: First in "AA" pro at the ABA Gilley's National in Pasadena, Texas on March 26, 1988. He won US$700, or US$1,267.52 in 2007 dollars. He also won "AA" pro the next day, winning US$875, US$1,584.40 2007.
First Senior Pro win: See above.
Retired: Still active in Veteran Pro and Masters classes.
2018.
Height & weight at height of career : Ht:6'0" Wt:200 lbs.
*In the NBL "AA Elite" pro depending on the era; in the ABA " Elite pro.
**In the NBL "A"/"Elite Men" pro; in the ABA Elite pro.

Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous ever-changing co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.

Amateur

In a later interview with BMX Action Terry Tenette made this statement:
"I just think GT blew it 'cause I think they could've used me as an example to sell more bikes, like they do in baseball. They could've kept me in there and let people know that there was a issue with THC they threw me out in the street, like 'We don't need you! Beat it!'"
--Terry Tenette BMX Action'' August 1988.

Other than alleging that what GT did was unlawful search and seizure, Terry at this stage and time never denied GT's allegations against him.no drug test was ever given to tenette. t
Mr.T can still be found at local cycling events mentoring the youth and competing for fun in age group amateur level events. You're welcome to follow him via Facebook and Instagram where he has current updates of his whereabouts in pictorials.

Professional

Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial, Regional, National, and International titles in italics. "Defunct" refers to the fact of that sanctioning body in question no longer existing at the start of the racer's career or at that stage of his/her career. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.

Amateur

National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
  • None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
National Bicycle Association
National Bicycle League
American Bicycle Association
United States Bicycle Motocross Association
International Bicycle Motocross Federation
Pro Series Championships

Notable accolades

Racing traits and habits

Like fellow BMX racer Pete Loncarevich, Mr. Tenette had a heavy interest in body building, and was often pictured displaying his physique in BMX publications.

Post BMX career

BMX press magazine interviews and articles

Bicycle Motocross News:
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Total BMX:
Bicycles and Dirt :
Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:
Moto Mag:
NBA World & NBmxA World :
Bicycles Today & BMX Today
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer :
USBA Racer :