Career
Atkinson began riding motorcycles at the age of thirteen. He rode in trials and grasstrack before taking up speedway in 1928 with Blackpool. In 1930 he joined the Johnnie Hoskins-managed Wembley Lions.
He missed the most of the 1931 season after a dispute with Wembley but in September 1931 he joined the West Ham Hammers.
Atkinson toured Australia in 1929/30, winning both the first of two Australian 2 mile Championship"s held at the Exhibition Speedway in Melbourne, and the Western Australian Championship at the Claremont Speedway in Perth. 1936 saw Atkinson selected for England against Australia in the test series and was a regular up to the war.
Atkinson remained with Hammers until the outbreak of World World War II, in which Atkinson served in the Royal Air Force. After the war he managed the West Ham Hammers alongside Stan Greatrex from 1946 until 1949.
Whilst promoting at Rayleigh he returned to riding again, for West Ham, but the twelve years away from competitive riding showed in his scoring.
In 1952 he was signed by the Harringay Racers for £80 and scored reasonably well but after a poor start to 1953 Atkinson retired from racing for ever. 1936 - London, Wembley Stadium - 16th - 3pts + 6 semi-final points
1937 - London, Wembley Stadium - 14th - 6pts + 8 semi-final points
1938 - London, Wembley Stadium - 11th - 5pts + 5 semi-final points.
