The headline read – “Atlas Takes Over AMA Pro Racing”. For about 10 seconds I was pumped as all get out. When it comes to motorcycle racing my word association for Atlas is Steve Atlas, sometimes pro racer and full-time executive editor over at Motorcycle USA.
I thought, right on! OK he’s a little young, but Steve-O is a great choice to take over AMA Pro Racing. The guy is a racer, he’s universally liked and he’ll shake things up and get road racing back on the right path. Steve is a super enthusiast. He’ll get sponsors pumped about getting into motorcycle road racing. That will lead to bigger and better TV coverage. Steve’s a fast man. He understands what it’s like to put it all on the line riding a 190 mph machine and won’t stand for racing on sub-standard racetracks. He’s respected by the riders and they’ll know he’s looking out for their best interest. Steve is tapped directly into the youth market so he’ll know just how to bring young fans into the sport.
Hell, I’m going to call my old buddy Steve-O up and tell him I’m behind him 100 percent and ready and willing to do whatever I can to help him take racing to the next level.
All these thoughts raced through my mind in a millisecond as I excitedly clicked on the headline to read the news release.
The more I thought about it, I realized this wasn’t just a great choice by the DMG, no it was more than that – it was an inspiration, a revelation… a goddamn brilliant move!
Then I started reading the first line of the release: AMA Pro Racing Managing Member, David Atlas has been appointed Chief Operating Office.
What?
David Atlas?
Who the hell is David Atlas? Then I remembered, oh… of course, that David Atlas, the attorney guy who has worked with Roger Edmondson for years.
Aww damn.
I still think Steve-O would have been a better pick.
Rider Files 
I had a similar reaction but oppisite of yours. I was horrified. From some of the other AMA doings my first thought was Tony Atlas! You know that WWF guy!
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Nice John. Or maybe Charles Atlas, who could lift the whole operation up on his shoulders.
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My thoughts were ‘I think I remember this name, just not in a good way…’ and then I heard about him and Roger E and it all came back to me. Ugh.
John Ulrich and his folks said it best to the general tune of ‘re-aranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic’ or something pretty close to that. Can I buy a row boat for $15? Don Pardo, tell him what he’s won……
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Stu
Exactly. The DMG had a real chance here to bring in someone who could have brought all the parties togehter to help weather this economic storm. Instead they promote one of their own. It remains to be seen what Atlas will do and let’s hope for racing’s sake that he can rally this thing, but I just wish they would have tried a little harder on this one.
LL
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