REFLEXES can make or break a racer's night and Jock Goodyer is making sure his training helps improve that aspect of his driving.
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The 18-year-old Tasmanian sprintcar racer, who returns to Allansford's Premier Speedway on Saturday night for Max's Race, has been making use of two mountain bike tracks around his home town of Launceston to better himself physically and mentally.
"I have been training my fitness as you have got to do that and it has been helping a lot," he said of his work outside of his T22 car.
"I have been doing a lot of running and mountain bike riding for that type of fitness.
"It's good for reflexes. We go to a place called Trevallyn, which is 10 minutes from home, and the Kate Reed, which is 20 minutes away. I got into it last year and I'm loving it now.
"I love the adrenaline rush on the downhills and then you get the gains on the uphill."
Goodyer, who is in his second season racing 410 sprintcars after one year in Formula 500s, said mountain biking had become a hobby he enjoyed with fellow racers Jason Conroy, Tim Berwick and his brother-in-law Callum Cizek.
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The teenager is full of belief heading into a busy two-week period, which includes Saturday's Max's Race in a 410 sprintcar before shifting back to the Formula 500s for the Australian title at Simpson next weekend.
"We are coming in with a lot of coincidence and a lot of car speed and the crew is also feeling good," he said.
Goodyer, who works for his father Darren's D&B Goodyer Developments company, will be aiming to better his second-place finish at last year's titles in Darwin, where he was passed on the final corner.
The apprentice electrician will also return to Warrnambool in January to contest his second Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.
Goodyer is focused on smashing his goals this season.
"We want to make A-mains and also hopefully get some podiums and consistent finishes," he said.
"It's just about being focused and getting everyone around me focused and to also be consistent so we can turn up to the track and continue to be consistent."
Goodyer's car and truck are based in Warrnambool with vastly experienced crew chief Glen Beaton.
The teenager has travelled to the mainland by plane almost every weekend for the past six weeks to race.
His most recent race at Premier Speedway was for the Victoria titles in November.
He time-trailed third, finished fourth in both his heats and started the A-main in 12th before finishing 19th.
Racing begins at 5pm with a 44-car field vying for Max's Race.
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