Seven-time motocross champ heads up global sales for renowned gear company
June 20, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA - JT
Racing USA is pleased to announce the addition of former World
Motocross and AMA Supermoto racer Darryl Atkins to its sales team.
Atkins, a seven-time New Zealand motocross champion, multi time AMA
Supermoto event winner and ESPN X Games competitor, will fill the Global
Sales Manager position at JT Racing and report directly to VP of Sales,
Daniel Sandstedt.
New Zealand motocross champion and accomplished supermoto racer Darryl Atkins joins JT Racing USA.
"I'm very excited to be on the JT Racing team," says Atkins. "I was
immediately enthused when I learned of JT's return, however, what really
sold me on this position is all of what JT has in store for the future.
I'm well aware of JT Racing's preeminent standing within the industry
back in the 70's and 80's, and I'm proud to be playing an intricate role
in the brand's resurrection."
Atkins was one of the very first riders from "down under" to achieve
big-time motocross success on the world stage, but he had his promising
career derailed by a near-fatal car accident in 1994. After sustaining
severe trauma to his right arm, Atkins' doctors decided to amputate, but
changed their minds just in the nick of time. They opted to try out an
experimental surgical method involving a nerve transplant, and though
the surgery was successful, doctors told Atkins he'd never be able to
lift more than three or four pounds with his right arm. Against all
odds, Atkins fervently rehabbed his arm, and two years later
miraculously earned World Motocross Championship points.
After discovering Supermoto competition in 2004, Atkins went on to
top-level racing success there, finishing second in the 2005 AMA
Supermoto Unlimited championship, and garnering a sixth-place at the
2006 ESPN X-Games. Soon after, Atkins was elevated to the role of team
manager for Aprilia's Supermoto factory team from 2006 through 2008. He
concluded his final year of Supermoto racing with a total of six race
wins, and lost the overall 2008 championship by a single controversial
point. Now retired from racing, Atkins works for a select handful of
companies, including Asterisk and M2R helmets.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have Darryl on the JT Racing team," says
Sandstedt, "even as he continues to work with such esteemed companies as
Asterisk and M2R, who were very generous to allow him to work with us.
Darryl's knowledge of the industry and his impeccable relationships
within it will help us immeasurably, and we're glad to have him aboard."
ABOUT JT RACING USA - Launched by John and Rita Gregory in the
late 1960's, JT Racing ruled the motocross world for decades. It was the
gear of choice for racing legends like Smith, Hannah, Johnson, Lechien
and Bailey. For 2011, JT Racing returns to the sport it helped build
with an innovative line of motocross gear: pants, gloves, jersey and a
trick new helmet not only reminiscent of the ground-breaking ALS-2 of
the early 1980’s, but one that will make you rethink helmet technology
entirely. With many past champions – Glover, LaPorte, Lechien and Hansen
– developing, testing and promoting the new line of gear, JT Racing is
poised to unleash the style and innovation that will once again become
the gold standard in motocross. JT Racing USA – History. Innovation. And
heart.
6/20/2011 11:05am
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