Mitchel Godden
Mitchel Stuart Godden (born 13 February 1975) is an English Motorcycle rider who compete's in Longtrack and Grasstrack Racing for Solos and more recently Sidecars. He is the son of Don Godden who won the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship.
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| Born | 13 February 1975 Pembury, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | England |
| Individual honours | |
| 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 | British Sand Ace Championship Winner |
| 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009 | British Best Pairs Championship Winner |
| 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012 | South-Eastern Centre Championship Winner |
| 1999 | Southern Centre Championship Winner |
| 2018 | Pokal Bergring Cup Winner |
| 2007,2009,2011 | MSC BadWalsee Wolfegg Winner |
| 2016 | Sidecars Super Series Winner |
| Team honours | |
| 2015 | Team Long Track World Championship Winning Manager |
Mitchell Godden followed in his fathers footsteps and started racing in 1992. He started on a 250cc (ex Jeremy Doncaster) Honda red Rocket and rode this for one season before using Godden works 350cc and then after a couple of seasons the 500cc. Mitch progressed to international racing becoming a specialists on German Grasstracks and Dutch Sandtracks. He often travelled to many of his European meetings with other riders, notably Trevor Banks the late Vincent Kinchin and “Super” Dave Mears among others.
In 2015 Mitchell went in to 500cc Sidecar racing and has again had massive success in the UK but especially on the continent. Along with his passenger Paul Smith they have quickly become one of the best crews in Europe. He has won events in Werlte , Ludinghausen, Berghaupten, Rastede & Angenrod, (Germany) and Roden & Eenrum in the Netherlands amongst others and with his never say die racing attitude they have delighted the European crowds with fantastic racing action. A close connection with long time friend and ex racer Gary Southgate helped and encourage the change in direction from 2 wheels to 3.
Using his track racing knowledge and engineering background Mitchel is now making and producing his own complete 500cc Sidecar machined known as Zircon Racing. Although this is not on a commercial basis if his own results are anything to go by they have already proven themselves to be world beaters. The team Godden/Smith raced to an impressive 19 podiums from 22 starts in 2017, 18 podiums from 23 starts in 2018 and 21 podiums from 23 starts in 2019, with most events being fought of foreign soil.
FIM SIDECAR European Championship
Mitchel & Paul finished an incredible 4th in their first attempt at the European title in Tayac France July 2017, 2nd in the 2018 FIME Championship in Werlte Germany July 2018, and 3rd in 2019 FIME Championship in Eenrum Netherlands August 2019.
The team have the prestigious accolade of being the only British team in history to hold 2 European championships medals and the only team in British history to win a championship medal(s) on foreign soil.
The 2020 Championship being held in Pfarrkirchen Germany on 6 September could see the boys complete the set bringing home gold!!!
Promotion
In recent year Mitchell has also turned his hand to promotion. He started the charity Kart meeting at Buckmore Park as well as promotion and running of the Invicta International Grasstrack meetings at the Hop Farm and Collier Street 'The Kings of Speed' in 2008, 2011 and 2012. In 2016 he started the Pit Bike Winter Series at Iwade Stadium.
Management
In 2013 Mitchell on behalf of the ACU took over the manager role of the Great Britain World Longtrack team. In 2013 he led the team to the bronze medal and 2015 he led the team to their only championship. His last year in the role will be 2018.
World Longtrack Championship
Individual Championship
- 1999 4 app (16th) 18pts
Team Championship
Rider
- 2007
Morizes – Second (with Paul Hurry, Andrew Appleton, Glen Phillips) - 2008
Werlte – Third (with Richard Hall, Glen Phillips, Vince Kinchin) - 2011 Scheeßel – Third (with Paul Cooper, Andrew Appleton, Glen Phillips)
Manager
- 2013
Folkestone – Third (with Richard Hall, Andrew Appleton, Paul Cooper, Glen Phillips) - 2014
Forssa – Fifth (with Andrew Appleton, Richard Hall, David Howe, Glen Phillips) - 2015 Mühldorf – First (with Andrew Appleton, Richard Hall, James Shanes, Glen Phillips)
- 2016
Marianske Lazne – Fourth (with Andrew Appleton, Richard Hall, James Shanes, Glen Phillips) - 2017
Roden – Fourth (with Andrew Appleton, Richard Hall, James Shanes, Edward Kennett) - 2018 Morizes – Second (with James Shanes, Chris Harris, Zach Wajtknecht, Adam Ellis)
European Grasstrack Championship
Solos Finals
- 2004 Eenrum (14th) 4pts
- 2008 Siddeburen (10th) 11pts
- 2010 La Reole (12th) 9pts
- 2011 Skegness (8th) 14pts
- 2012 Eenrum (14th) 6pts
- 2015 Staphorst (11th) 6pts
- 2016 Folkestone (14th) 3pts
Solos Semi-finals
- 2000 Semi-finalist
- 2003 Semi-finalist
- 2005 Semi-finalist
- 2006 Semi-finalist
- 2009 Semi-finalist
- 2014 Semi-finalist
British Masters Grasstrack Championship
Top Ten Finishes
- 2005 Northiam (9th)
- 2006 Wadebridge (7th)
- 2007 Long Marston (9th)
- 2008 Rhodes Minnis (4th)
- 2010 Rhodes Minnis (5th)
- 2013 Uddens (7th)
- 2014 Swingfield (6th)
- 2015 Corfe Mullen (9th)
Other Appearances: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012.
British Sidecar Championship
- 2016 Frittenden (Second)
- 2017 Ledbury (Second)
- 2018 Chelmsford (Third)
