When Darryl Atkins lines up for a Supermoto final, chances are he’ll have one of the slowest heartbeats on the grid – and not because of overconfidence! The New Zealand ace credits his physical strength from hours of triathlon type training combined with his ultra smooth riding style that contributes to his world-class athlete status. 7 time New Zealand champion, and one of the very first riders from Down Under to achieve much racing success on a world scale, this New Zealander had his promising GP MX/SX career derailed by a near-fatal car accident in ’94. Due to severe trauma to his right arm, doctors made the decision to amputate. In critical condition, and minutes before operating, a decision was made to use Darryl as a test for a brand new method of respiratory nerve transplant. Although his arm was salvaged, his medical team advised that he would never be able to lift more than 3 or 4 lbs. after rigorous physical therapy. Darryl persevered and miraculously came back two years later to earn World Motocross Championship points.
He discovered Supermoto in March ’04, where he finished 2nd to Jeff Ward (Supermoto champ) in the famous indoor Paris Supermoto event. Darryl then went on and showed everyone his capabilities on a 450cc bike at the ‘06 Summer X-Games. Starting 18th, he worked his way up to 6th. Darryl also had the ’05 Unlimited Championship sewed up until a last lap, last turn pass by his championship counterpart that put Darryl into the wall meters from the finish.
In ’06 Darryl organized Americas first Factory Aprilia Supermoto team. With their starting year focused on research and development, he and his team later won ’07 Team Champion, and Darryl won 3 Supermoto Unlimited races in ’08, and came in runner up champion by just 1 controversial point!
He and his wife Heather now call San Clemente, CA home. In addition to his racing, Darryl heads up International sales for some highly reputable companies within the racing industry, and continually adds new skills to his resume as he eagerly moves forward with his business endeavors.
Pilot Darryl Atkins - #54 Yearbook
2008 2nd AMA Supermoto Unlimited Championship
2008 Three 1st places in 2008
2007 AMA Supermoto Unlimited National Team Champion
2007 AMA Supermoto Unlimited Championship 6th place
(Was comfortably 2nd until suffering a broken left arm)
2007 Mayhem at the Morongo, Cabazon, CA
Unlimited: Did Not Start, Day 2: Did Not Start (broken left arm)
2007 Galveston Texas AMA Supermoto National
Unlimited: Did Not Start (suffered broken left arm)
2007 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO
Unlimited: 5th Place
2007 Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ
Unlimited: 14th Place
2007 Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
Unlimited: 6th Place
2007 Detroit Supermoto at Waterford Hills Road Course, Clarkston, MI
Unlimited: 2nd Place
2007 Summer X Games 13, Los Angeles, CA
Unlimited: 16th Place
2007 Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
Supermoto: 7th Place, Unlimited: 3rd Place
2007 Music City Motorplex, Nashville, TN
Unlimited: 4th Place
2007 Redmond AMA Supermoto National
Unlimited: 1st Place
2006 ESPN X-Games 12, Los Angeles, CA
Unlimited: 6th Place
2006 Fontana AMA Supermoto
Unlimited: 4th Place
2006 Detroit AMA Supermoto
Unlimited: 5th Place
2006 Denver AMA Supermoto
Unlimited: 5th Place
2005 Supermoto Championships (5 top 3 finishes out of 6 rounds)
Unlimited: 2nd Place
2004 Supermoto Championships (3 top 5 finishes out of 7 rounds)
Unlimited: 6th Place
2004 Czech Republic Supercross Champion
1st Place
2003 – 2004 Denmark Supercross Champion
1st Place
1999 Denmark Supercross Champion
1st Place
1998 Comeback Year, Earned Motocross GP Points after near fatal accident
1994 - 1997 Recovery period. Doctors said Darryl would never use right arm again. Now Darryl is listed in medical journals for his remarkable comeback.
1994 MX De Nations
5th Place Overall
1993 125cc & 250cc New Zealand Supercross & Motocross Champion
1st Place
1992 125cc New Zealand Supercross Champion
1st Place
1991 125cc New Zealand Motocross & Supercross Champion
1st Place
1989 125cc Australian Supercross Champion
1st Place
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