Mitchel Stuart Godden

2021/2022/2023 Triple British Grasstarck 500cc Sidecar Champion. Team Godden / Smith

Mitchel is an English Motorcycle rider who competes in Longtrack and Grasstrack Racing for Solos (1992>) and more recently 500cc Sidecars (2015>)

He is the son of Don Godden who won the Individual Speedway Long Track World Championship in 1969.

Mitchel 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 machine and then after a couple of seasons progressed to 500cc class. Mitch later 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 long term passenger Paul Smith they have quickly become one of the best crews in Europe. They have won international events in Werlte, Ludinghausen, Osnabrook, Hertingen Berghaupten, Bielefeld, Rastede & Angenrod, (Germany) and Roden & Eenrum in the Netherlands amongst others and with his flamboyant and 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 after trail success in 2014.

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, and 15 podiums from 16 starts in 2022 including 8 first places, and probably the most impressive season in 2023 with 21 podiums from 23 starts including 16 Gold medal positions with most events being fought out 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 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 despite being the top scoring team in the event.

The team have the prestigious accolade of being the only British team in history to hold 4 European championships medals and the only team in British history to win a championship medal(s) on foreign soil.

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 and consecutive title in 2023.

Team Godden/Smith have completely dominated the European sidecar scene in 2023 and are generally regarded by all as the top team in Europe.

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

European Grasstrack Championship

British Masters Grasstrack Championship

British Sidecar Championship

• 2016 Frittenden (Second)
• 2017 Ledbury (Second)
• 2018 Chelmsford (Third)
• 2019 Chelmsford (Disqualified)
• 2021 Ledbury (First)
• 2022 Frittenden (First)
• 2023 GTSA (First)

British Sand Ace Championship

• 2006 Guernsey (Champion)
• 2007 Guernsey (Champion)
• 2008 Guernsey (5th)
• 2009 Guernsey (Champion)
• 2010 Guernsey (Champion)
• 2011 Guernsey (Champion)
• 2012 Guernsey (Third)
• 2013 Guernsey (18th)
• 2014 Guernsey (5th)
• 2015 Guernsey (6th)

Sources

• Grasstrackgb
• Polish Historia
• Family History
• Longtrack History