Donald Atherton is a former American "Old School" professional Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1978–1982.
Racing career milestones
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.Super BMX August 1980 Vol.7 No.8 pg.67 First win : See above. Sanctioning body: NBA Sanctioning body district:American Bicycle Association California 7 First race bicycle: A red FMF. First sponsor: Flying Dutchman Team First national win: Turned Professional: Late December 1980 at age 16. First Professional race result: Fourth place. It was a local race in Van Nuys, California during the week of December 20, 1980. His first National pro race was the JAGWorld 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. First Professional* win: In "AA" at the American Bicycle Association Great Northwest National in Sumner, Washington on June 15, 1983. He won US$500. 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.
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
Flying Dutchman's Performance Products: January 1978-December 1978.
Jag BMX: Early 1979. He was on Jag for only two weeks.
Schwinn Bicycle Company: March 1979-December 1983. He joined Schwinn at the 1979 NBA Mid-West Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. Atherton would turn professional with this company.
Professional
Schwinn Bicycle Company: March 1979-December 1983.
Pro-Fit:January 1, 1984-Late January 1984. This was a bicycle stem company Atherton was part owner of and at this time his primary sponsor.
Kam Marketing/Champion Racing Products: Late January 1984-April 1984
Redline Engineering: Early May 1984-Mid June 1984. Atherton was only sponsored by Redline for approximately six weeks, leaving a week after the ABA US Nationals held on June 3, 1984. He was dissatisfied with the number of races planned on sending him, ten maximum, in contrast to the thirty or more Vector could send him to.
Works/Pro-fit: Mid June 1984-November 1984. Once again his company was his main sponsor.
Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, 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.
