Mitchel Stuart Godden is an English motorcycle rider. He competes in
longtrack and
grasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of track racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. It is one of the oldest types of motorcycle sports in t ...
racing for Solos (1992) and more recently 500cc Sidecars (2015). He is the son of
Don Godden
Don Vincent Godden (born 13 November 1936 – 28 May 2011) was a British motorcycle rider. He competed in longtrack and grasstrack racing. He competed in twelve World Longtrack Championship Finals and won the title in 1969. Don's son Mitch ...
who won the
Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship
This is the complete list of Individual Long Track World Championship medalists from 1971. Also included are the medalists from 1957 to 1970 when the championship was known as the European Individual Long Track Championship.
Medalists Europ ...
in 1969.
Mitchel Godden followed in his fathers footsteps and started racing in 1992. He started on a 250cc (ex
Jeremy Doncaster
Jeremy Doncaster (born 16 June 1961 in Grimsby, England) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider, who won the World Team Cup with England.
Speedway career
Doncaster began riding for the Ipswich Witches during the 1982 British Leag ...
)
Honda
commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...
red Rocket and rode this for one season before using
Godden works 350cc machine and then after a couple of seasons progressed to 500cc class. Godden later progressed to international racing becoming a specialists on German grasstracks and Dutch sandtracks.
In 2015 after 23 years of racing at the very top level Godden went in to
500cc Sidecar racing and achieved immediate success in the UK and the continent soon after. With his passenger, Paul Smith, he has won international events in
Werlte
Werlte is a town in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History
Werlte was a host city of the 2008 Team Long Track World Championship; the championship was won by Germany. Economy
Werlte is home to a factory of the Krone company.
T ...
, Ludinghausen, Schwarme, Herxheim, Osnabrook, Hertingen Berghaupten, Bielefeld, Rastede & Angenrod, (Germany) and
Roden
Roden is a name of Germanic origin, originally meaning "red valley" or an anglicization of the Gaelic name "O'Rodain". It may refer to:
Places
*Roden, Bavaria, a town in the Main-Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany
*Roden, Netherlands, a town ...
, Uithuizen, Joure, Stadskannal, Lopersum, Balkbrug, Staphorst & Eenrum in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, and Tayac, StMacaire, in France amongst others
Using his vast track racing knowledge and engineering background Godden produces his own complete 500cc Sidecar machined known as Zircon Racing. 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, and 15 podiums from 16 starts in 2022 including 8 first places, 21 podiums from 23 starts including 16 Gold medal positions in 2023, and the best yet 18 podiums in international events from 18 starts in 2024 including 10 first place Victories with most (16) events being fought out of foreign soil.
Godden/Smith finished 4th in their first attempt at the European title in Tayac France July 2017, 2nd in the 2018 FIM-Europe Championship in Werlte Germany July 2018, 3rd in 2019 FIM-E Championship in Eenrum Netherlands August 2019, 2nd in 2022 FIM-E Championship in Eenrum Netherlands August 2022, and 2nd again in the 2023 FIME Championship held in Bad-Hersfeld Germany. This was followed with second again in 2024 making an impressive new record in the sport although the gold medal still eludes their grasp.
The team are the only British team in history to hold 5 European championships medals and the only team in British history to win any championship medal(s) on foreign soil. Their tally of wins and podiums over the past 5 years arguably rates them as one of the most successful and consistent crews currently and cements their efforts into the sidecar halls of fame.
** 4x British Champions **
The team won their first British 500cc sidecar championship in 2021, after several near misses in the years before, taking the title with an unbeaten performance. This was followed by taking their second and successive British title in 2022 and the third in 2023. The impressive European form continued to make it the 4th consecutive title in 2024 with an unbeaten maximum ride.
Promotion
In recent year Godden has also turned his hand to promotion. He started the charity Kart meeting at
Buckmore Park
Buckmore Park Kart Circuit is an MSA approved outdoor kart racing circuit located just off junction 3 of the M2 in Chatham, Kent, England. Until his death on 10 March 2017, it was owned by John Surtees, the only person to have won world Grand ...
as well as promotion and running of the Invicta International Grasstrack meetings at the
Hop Farm
The Hop Farm is a Country Park in Beltring, near East Peckham in the English county of Kent. The farm is over 450 years old and has the largest collection of oast houses in the world.
History
Hops have been grown on the farm since at least the ...
and
Collier Street
Collier Street is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone in Kent, England. The village is in a rural location but is close to the larger villages of Yalding, Marden and Horsmonden.
The village includes St Margaret's Chur ...
'
The Kings of Speed' in 2008, 2011 and 2012. In 2016 he started the Pit Bike Winter Series at
Iwade Stadium.
Management
In 2013 Godden 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 was 2018.
World Longtrack Championship
Individual Championship
* 1999 4 app (16th) 18pts
Team Championship
Rider
*
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
Morizès
Morizès (; ) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
Speedway
The motorcycle speedway track dominates the northern area of the commune. It is known as a Long Track and hosts import ...
– Second (with
Paul Hurry
Paul William George Hurry (born 9 April 1975 in Canterbury, Kent) is an English former motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 12 international caps for the England national speedway team and 5 caps for the Great Britain team.
Career
Hurry bega ...
,
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Glen Phillips)
*
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
Werlte
Werlte is a town in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. History
Werlte was a host city of the 2008 Team Long Track World Championship; the championship was won by Germany. Economy
Werlte is home to a factory of the Krone company.
T ...
– Third (with
Richard Hall,
Glen Phillips,
Vince Kinchin)
*
2011
The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
Scheeßel
Scheeßel (; Northern Low Saxon: ''Scheeßl'') is a municipality in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Wümme, approx. 10 km northeast of Rotenburg, 45 km east of Bremen, and 70 km sou ...
– Third (with
Paul Cooper,
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Glen Phillips)
Manager
*
2013
2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years).
2013 was designated as:
*International Year of Water Cooperation
*International Year of Quinoa
Events
January
* January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
Folkestone
Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...
– Third (with
Richard Hall,
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Paul Cooper,
Glen Phillips)
*
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
Forssa
Forssa is a Cities of Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. It is located almost in the centre of a triangle defined by the three largest major cities in Finland (Helsinki, Turku and Tampere), in the Tavastia Prop ...
– Fifth (with
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Richard Hall,
David Howe,
Glen Phillips)
*
2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
Mühldorf
Mühldorf am Inn (, ; Central Bavarian: ''Muihdorf am Inn'') is a Town#Germany, town in Bavaria, Germany, and the capital of the Mühldorf (district), district Mühldorf on the river Inn (river), Inn. It is located at , and had a population of ab ...
– First (with
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Richard Hall,
James Shanes
James Shanes (born 17 March 1997) is a British speedway rider and also competes in Grasstrack and Longtrack speedway. He is a four times British Masters Grasstrack Champion, 2 times European Grasstrack Champion and world long track competitor. ...
,
Glen Phillips)
*
2016
2016 was designated as:
* International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
* International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
Mariánské Lázně
Mariánské Lázně (; ) is a spa town in Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 14,000 inhabitants. Most of the town's buildings come from its Golden Era in the second half of the 19th century, when many c ...
– Fourth (with
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Richard Hall,
James Shanes
James Shanes (born 17 March 1997) is a British speedway rider and also competes in Grasstrack and Longtrack speedway. He is a four times British Masters Grasstrack Champion, 2 times European Grasstrack Champion and world long track competitor. ...
,
Glen Phillips)
*
2017
2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly.
Events January
* January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
Roden
Roden is a name of Germanic origin, originally meaning "red valley" or an anglicization of the Gaelic name "O'Rodain". It may refer to:
Places
*Roden, Bavaria, a town in the Main-Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany
*Roden, Netherlands, a town ...
– Fourth (with
Andrew Appleton
Andrew Appleton (born 18 June 1982) is an English motorcycle racer.
Career
Appleton competes in grasstrack, longtrack and speedway.
Speedway
Appleton's first full season in the British leagues was when he rode for Newport Wasps during the ...
,
Richard Hall,
James Shanes
James Shanes (born 17 March 1997) is a British speedway rider and also competes in Grasstrack and Longtrack speedway. He is a four times British Masters Grasstrack Champion, 2 times European Grasstrack Champion and world long track competitor. ...
,
Edward Kennett
Edward David Kennett (born 28 August 1986 in Hastings, England) is a motorcycle speedway rider. He was the British Under-21 Champion in 2005 and has appeared in two Speedway Grand Prix as a wild card. He has recently retired from the sport due ...
)
*
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
Morizès
Morizès (; ) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
Speedway
The motorcycle speedway track dominates the northern area of the commune. It is known as a Long Track and hosts import ...
– Second (with
James Shanes
James Shanes (born 17 March 1997) is a British speedway rider and also competes in Grasstrack and Longtrack speedway. He is a four times British Masters Grasstrack Champion, 2 times European Grasstrack Champion and world long track competitor. ...
,
Chris Harris Chris Harris may refer to:
Sportspeople
* Chris Harris (basketball) (1933–2022), English basketballer
* Chris Harris (cricketer) (born 1969), New Zealand cricketer
* Chris Harris (darts player) (born 1977), Welsh darts player
* Chris Harris (rowe ...
,
Zach Wajtknecht
Zach Wajtknecht (born 8 February 1998) is a motorcycle speedway rider from Great Britain.
Career
At an early age Wajtknecht became a double World Champion, twice triumphing in the FIM 125cc Grasstrack Youth Gold Trophy. He followed up these ...
,
Adam Ellis)
European Grasstrack Championship
Solos Finals
* 2004
Eenrum
Eenrum (; ) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Het Hogeland, 17 km northwest of the city of Groningen.
Eenrum was a separate municipality until 1990, then it was merged with Ulrum, Klooste ...
(14th) 4pts
* 2008
Siddeburen
Siddeburen (; or ) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Midden-Groningen, about 10 km southwest of Delfzijl.
Siddeburen was a separate municipality until 1826, when it was merged with Slocht ...
(10th) 11pts
* 2010
La Réole
La Réole (; ) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Geography
La Réole is located on the right bank of the Garonne, southeast of Bordeaux by rail. La Réole station has rail connections to Age ...
(12th) 9pts
* 2011
Skegness
Skegness ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire, England. On the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, the town is east of Lincoln and north-east of Boston. With a population of 21,128 as of 2021 ...
(8th) 14pts
* 2012
Eenrum
Eenrum (; ) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Het Hogeland, 17 km northwest of the city of Groningen.
Eenrum was a separate municipality until 1990, then it was merged with Ulrum, Klooste ...
(14th) 6pts
* 2015
Staphorst
Staphorst () is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.
History
The villages of Staphorst and its southern neighbour Rouveen came into existence as in the 13th century monks started to bring the bogs and swamps into culture.
All ...
(11th) 6pts
* 2016
Folkestone
Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...
(14th) 3pts
Solos Semi-finals
* 2000 Semi-finalist
* 2003 Semi-finalist
* 2005 Semi-finalist
* 2006 Semi-finalist
* 2009 Semi-finalist
* 2014 Semi-finalist
Sidecar Finals
* 2017
Tayac (4th) 7pts
* 2018
Wertle (2nd) 17pts
* 2019
Eenrum
Eenrum (; ) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Het Hogeland, 17 km northwest of the city of Groningen.
Eenrum was a separate municipality until 1990, then it was merged with Ulrum, Klooste ...
(3rd) 18pts
* 2022
Eenrum
Eenrum (; ) is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Het Hogeland, 17 km northwest of the city of Groningen.
Eenrum was a separate municipality until 1990, then it was merged with Ulrum, Klooste ...
(2nd) 17pts
* 2023
Bad Hersfeld
The festival and spa town of Bad Hersfeld (''Bad'' is "spa" in German; the Old High German name of the city was ''Herolfisfeld'') is the district seat of the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in northeastern Hesse, Germany, roughly 50 km southeast ...
(2nd) 11pts
* 2024
Uithuizen
Uithuizen () is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Het Hogeland. It had a population of 4,885 in January 2017.
The Uithuizen railway station is located on the Sauwerd–Roodeschool railway.
Hist ...
(2nd) 10pts
British Masters Grasstrack Championship
Top Ten Finishes
* 2005
Northiam
Northiam is a village and civil parish in the Rother District, Rother district, in East Sussex, England, 13 miles (21 km) north of Hastings in the valley of the River Rother, East Sussex, River Rother. The A28 road to Ashford, Kent, Ashford ...
(9th)
* 2006
Wadebridge
Wadebridge (; ) is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town straddles the River Camel upstream from Padstow.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newquay & Bodmin'' The pe ...
(7th)
* 2007
Long Marston (9th)
* 2008
Rhodes Minnis
Rhodes Minnis is a village near Folkestone in Kent, England, located between Lyminge and Stelling Minnis. It is on the boundary of the civil parishes of Lyminge and Elham. It was a gathering place for some of the Swing Riots
The Swing Riots ...
(4th)
* 2010
Rhodes Minnis
Rhodes Minnis is a village near Folkestone in Kent, England, located between Lyminge and Stelling Minnis. It is on the boundary of the civil parishes of Lyminge and Elham. It was a gathering place for some of the Swing Riots
The Swing Riots ...
(5th)
* 2013
Uddens (7th)
* 2014
Swingfield
Swingfield is a village and civil parish in the district of Folkestone and Hythe in Kent, England. The parish includes the settlements of Densole on the A260 towards Hawkinge, and Selsted.
The village is located approximately 5 miles north of ...
(6th)
* 2015
Corfe Mullen
Corfe Mullen is a village in Dorset, England, on the north-western urban fringe of the South East Dorset conurbation. The community had a population of 10,133 at the 2011 Census. It is served by six churches, four pubs, five schools, a libra ...
(9th)
* 2021
Swingfield
Swingfield is a village and civil parish in the district of Folkestone and Hythe in Kent, England. The parish includes the settlements of Densole on the A260 towards Hawkinge, and Selsted.
The village is located approximately 5 miles north of ...
(3rd)
Other Appearances: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012.
British Sidecar Championship
* 2016
Frittenden
Frittenden is a village and civil parish in the Tunbridge Wells District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the flood plain of one of the tributaries of the River Medway, 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Tunbridge Wells: the vill ...
(Second)
* 2017
Ledbury
Ledbury is a market town and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and west of the Malvern Hills.
It has a significant number of Tudor style timber-framed structures, in particular along Church Lane a ...
(Second)
* 2018
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
(Third)
* 2019
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
(Disqualified)
* 2021
Ledbury
Ledbury is a market town and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and west of the Malvern Hills.
It has a significant number of Tudor style timber-framed structures, in particular along Church Lane a ...
(First)
* 2022
Frittenden
Frittenden is a village and civil parish in the Tunbridge Wells District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the flood plain of one of the tributaries of the River Medway, 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Tunbridge Wells: the vill ...
(First)
* 2023
GTSA (First)
* 2024
Frittenden
Frittenden is a village and civil parish in the Tunbridge Wells District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the flood plain of one of the tributaries of the River Medway, 15 miles (24 km) to the east of Tunbridge Wells: the vill ...
(First)
British Sand Ace Championship
* 2006
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Champion)
* 2007
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Champion)
* 2008
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(5th)
* 2009
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Champion)
* 2010
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Champion)
* 2011
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Champion)
* 2012
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(Third)
* 2013
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(18th)
* 2014
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(5th)
* 2015
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(6th)
Sources
GrasstrackgbPolish HistoriaLongtrack History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godden, Mitchel
1975 births
Living people
Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship riders
English motorcycle racers
Sportspeople from Pembury