Donny Atherton
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Donald Atherton (b. January, 1964 from Newbury Park, California USA) is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978-1986.
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[edit] Racing career
Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
Started Racing: December 1977 at age 13.
First race result: First place in 13 begininer at the Elks Club BMX track in Simi Valley, California.[1]
First win (local): See above.
Sanctioning Body:
First sponsor: Flying Dutchman Team (bike shop)
First national win:
Turned Professional: Late December 1980 at age 16.[2]
First Professional race result: Fourth place. It was a local race in Van Nuys, California during the week of December 20, 1980. [3] His first National pro race was the JAG World Championships on December 27, 1980. He crashed in the Pro Money class first qualifying moto and his two other qualifying finishes in the qualifying round wasn't good enough and did not transfer to the semi-finals. He did get a sixth in Pro Trophy.[4]
First Professional* win:
Retired:
Height & weight at height of his career ():
*At the start of his pro career, there wasn't a two tier system of Junior and Senior Pros, therefore his first pro race and/or win was his first in Senior pro.
[edit] 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 co-sponsors.
[edit] Amateur
- Flying Dutchman's Performance Products:
- Schwinn Bicycle Company: 1979-December 1983. Atherton would turn professional with this company.
[edit] Professional
- Schwinn Bicycle Company: 1979-December 1983
- Pro-Fit: January 1, 1984-March 1984 This was a bicycle stem company Atherton was part owner of and at this time his primary sponsor.
- Champion: March 1984-April 1984
- Redline Engineering: May 1984-August 1984
- Works: August 1984-November 1984
- Vector: November 1984-
[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles
[edit] Amateur
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- 1979 15 Expert Jag World Champion (NBA/NBL sanctioned)
- 1980 16 Expert and Overall Western States Champion.
- 1980 National No.1
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- None
[edit] Professional
National Bicycle Association (NBA)
- None
National Bicycle League (NBL)
- None
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
- None
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
- None
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)
- None
Pro Series Championships
[edit] Notable accolades
- He won the 1980 NBA best Fifteen Year Old Expert Award[5]
- He was named the 1980 NBA Most Improved Rider of the Year[6]
- He was named the Rookie of the Year for 1979 by BMX Plus! magazine.[7]
[edit] Significant injuries
[edit] Peccadilloes
[edit] Post BMX career
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] BMX magazine covers
Bicycle Motocross News:
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action:
BMX Plus!:
Bicycles and Dirt:
[edit] BMX press magazine interviews and articles
- "Rags To Riches: Schwinn's Donny Atherton" Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.66
- "New Wave Superstars" Bicycle Motocross Action August 1980 Vol.5 No.8 pg.37. Mini biography with six other BMX new comers.
- "The Complete Racer: Atherton & Schwinn" Bicycle Motocross Action December 1980 Vol.5 No.12 pg.72. A detailed look at Atherton's race bike.
- "Devonshire" BMX Action July 1984 Vol.9 No.7 pg.27. One of eight mini-interviews held druing the 1984 Devonshire Downs NBL race.
[edit] End Notes
- ^ Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.67
- ^ BMX Plus! Vol.4 No.4 pg.45
- ^ BMX Plus! Vol.4 No.4 pg.46
- ^ BMX Plus! Vol.4 No.4 pg.53 (Race Results)
- ^ Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.67
- ^ Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.67
- ^ Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.67
