About
Matt Goodfield
Profile
D.O.B. 15/03/1989
Born: Gloucester
Current location: Pontypool
Occupation: Technical Account Manager in automotive industry
Road bikes
From a young age Matt has taken to motorbikes like a duck to water. Matt's dad (Dave Goodfield) used to race a Norton Commando as well as various two stroke Suzukis when he was in his twenties, this is where Matts influence has come from. At the age of ten Matt bought his first bike which was a Honda C50 which he bought with his own money for £50 and then later sold it for £225. From there he used to maintan his bikes in the front garden, becoming his hobby and passion- often getting into trouble for dragging oil and petrol through the house. Starting off on a 50cc Matt has worked his way up to having owned some very powerful bikes. Honda VFR, Honda Fireblade, Honda Blackbird, Triumph Daytona 955i and currently owns a CBR600FX as his road bike.
Racing Career and Bike
Matt has always wanted to take his love of motorbikes from the road and test himself on the track. In 2012 he decided to go for it, attending Chris Walker race school at Mallory Park on a Kawasaki ZX-6R 636. In 2013 he went on to do a number of track days, the first being at Llandow circuit, Cardiff. Then going on to Pembrey then Mallory. During this year (six track days) Matt found a competitive streak within himself. In 2014 Matt acquired his race license, finally getting onto the track in a competitive enviroment. Starting off at Brands Hatch (16/03/14) with NGRRC. At the end of March competing in his first race at Darley Moor and then Tonfanau in May due to unfortunately missing round one in April but made up for it by finishing second in his first race.
In his first season wit Darley Moor Matt placed 4th in the Steel frame Championship. As the season went on Matts lap times were getting better and better, starting off in round one with a lap time of with a 1:09.21 in the last race of the season Matt put in his best ever lap time 1:04.61. One moment of craziness led Matt to another season first, binning his bike on an over enthusiastic approach to paddock corner. Fortunately Matt and Bike were ok, bike only suffering minor fairing damage. The pit crew jumped straight to work cleaning and straightening her out ready to send Matt out to finish the last race of the season. During the season Matt collected four trophies for finishing second, yet first place still illudes him. 2015 will hopefully be the season that the other competitors will see Matt as a championship challenger.
Race Bike
Matt's race bike is a Honda CBR600 steelie commonly known among the pit crew as "The Old Girl." It doesn't matter what you throw at her, she still fires up and she's ready to race. This is thanks to Gary Vardy (engine builder) and the meticulous maintenence completed by Dave. At the moment the old girl is currently in bits scattered across the country, this isn't a bad thing so dont be worried. She is having work done on her ready for the 2015 season. Suspension, engine and body work and also a new exhaust. Hopefully next season she will be desireable among the other racers.
Meet the Pit Crew
Chief Engineer - Dave Goodfield (Matt's Dad)
Dave is a motorcycle enthusiast, having ridden bike all his life Dave decided to race as well. Racing Nortons in the days where motorbikes didn't have half the equipment on them as bikes do nowadays. Having been on the scene for many years Dave knows just about all there is to know about bikes and how to make difficult mechanical tasks look easy. Dave doesn't stress if a bolt gets snapped or break pads seized in the caliper, he always seems to find a way of getting the job done so Matt can race. Daves current road bike is a Suzuki Hayabusa.
Second in Command - Bethan Goodfield
Beth is Matts wife, she is the unsung star of this pit crew, give her a spanner or tell her to change a wheel and off she goes. Beth really doesn't mind getting grease under her finger nails or oil on her clothes, she just gets on with the matter in hand. Beths pit crew time starts well before the rest, usually the night before, getting Matts gear together, preparing lunch for the crew then has to drive Matt four hours to Darley Moor early in the morning.
Third in Command - Rhys Haines
Rhys' role is far more simple than anyone else on the team, he offers moral support and helping hand. Loves the racing competitivness and the smell of petrol in the morning. Rhys' current bike is a Sachs XTC
