Mike Goodfellow is making his debut in the British Supersport championship this weekend (20/6/04) at Brands GP on the AGW Roofing CBR600RR. He is a trained mechanic who does most of the preparation himself, helped by his Dad and friends. Mike was always mad on bikes, having one on a friend's farm at a young age, then moving onto the road with a 50cc at 16. A couple of accidents saw him give up road riding and look to track days in 2000 where his times were respectable enough for him to consider racing.
In his first season, on a tight budget he achieved 7th in the BEMSEE Rookie 600 Championship with his 7 year old ex-road bike a Honda CBR600 in 2001.
During 2002 on a year old Suzuki GSXR600 he finished 2nd behind Kenny Burns in the Clubmans 600 Championship, with 27 podiums.
In 2003 with a tuned engine and better suspension set up he won the BEMSEE Supersport 600 Championship and was 8th in the MRO National Championship.
For 2004 Mike has been supported by a group of local sponsors who have purchased a brand new Honda CBR600RR and helped him develop it into a very competitive bike. He aims to finish in the top 3 of the MRO Championship, if time allows full attendance take the BEMSEE Nationwide Championship and to compete in a few BSB Supersport 600 rounds!
Although Mike is acknowledged as being quick in the wet, he is also equally fast in the dry. At last year's hot, dry Croix meeting he held the 600 lap record on 2 occasions as well as taking race wins. He acknowledges in the 2onT 20qs that beating the Powerbike field in The Champion of Brands race in March was his finest acheivement to date.
I asked him how come you're so quick in the wet? " In my first season racing it was obvious that my bike had less power than many others, but the rain is a great equaliser. Some people are nervous of any wet but I am quite smooth and can feel exactly what's happening with the bike before its too late. I suppose its all about confidence - mist on the visor worries some riders."
What's been done to your bike to make it so quick? "Well it was quick 'out of the box' from Tippetts so I had a good base to start from. Seastar sorted a brilliant map for the Power Commander; Bob Farnham Tuning has once again come up with a reliable, quick engine and MC Technics have helped with the suspension set up."
20 Questions;
- 1. Where do you live? Cranleigh, Surrey
- 2. Where did you grow up? Forest Green, Surrey
- 3. What school did you go to and how many GCSEs did you get? Glebelands - 8
- 4. How old are you? 26
- 5. How long have you been racing? Four years
- 6. What's the worst job you've every done? Paper round - I hate early mornings!
- 7. What's the best bike you've ever ridden? My Honda CBR600RR
- 8. What's the worst bike you've ever ridden? DT50MX
- 9. What's your favourite track? Donington and Oulton Park
- 10. What's your favourite pastime? Bike Racing
- 11. What's your favourite website? BEMSEE & TenKate
- 12. What's your favourite book? A Twist of the Wrist - Keith Code
- 13. Who's the best rider you've ever raced against? Sam Corke, also not actually raced against but had some awesome 1 : 1 tuition with Ron Haslam.
14. What was the best race you've ever been in? Champion of Brands, March 04, won by - 14 seconds against Powerbikes in the wet on a 600.
- 15. How many crashes have you had? 4
- 16. What was the most painful crash? A highside at Snetterton where I landed on the kerb on my back, was stretchered off and had my leathers cut off - that really hurt as all I'd actually done was bruised my backside. However, I'm grateful to the medics for their care.
- 17. What do you drive on the road? A Transit
- 18. Fogarty or Doohan? Foggy
- 19. Favourite TV programme? Friends
- 20. If we gave you a cruise missile, what would you fire it at? Houses of Parliament
This rider profile was kindly provided by Pete Morrison of www.twowheelsontrack.com
If you have written an article and would like it to be published, please contact us; webmaster@motorbike-search-engine.co.uk
