GODDARD BATTLES THROUGH RAIN TO SCORE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Australia's Peter Goddard battled through heavy rain to score points for Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli in both races of today's World Superbike Championship round at Silverstone in Britain.

The sixth round of the championship comprised two 20-lap races, and track conditions were wet in both.

Goddard, who qualified 17th on a three-cylinder works Benelli Tornado 900, finished 13th in the first race, scoring three championship points. In the second race the 37-year-old from Wollongong was 15th, and secured one point.

The Silverstone round was Goddard's second racing appearance in this year's championship. He had also scored championship points in the previous round at Monza in Italy on May 12.

Australia's Troy Bayliss retained the championship lead at Silverstone with an overall tally of 260 points on an Infostrada Ducati, followed by American Colin Edwards with 231 on a Castrol Honda. The next championship round is at the Lausitzring in Germany on June 9.

PETER GODDARD QUOTES: "Conditions were atrocious today. The spray made it tough to see and the waterlogged track surface made it slippery for everyone. It was a day of survival and at least we managed to finish and get some points in both races. The first race was one of attrition with very mixed conditions from heavy showers to sunshine. My bike was misfiring badly up high in the RPM due to the large amount of water going through the engine. This is due to our inexperience on this bike in rain conditions. In the second race I chose the same tyres, but the rear was an unsuitable cut design for the drying conditions so we could only struggle around trying not to crash. The rubber was over-heating and the unstable tyre pattern made it difficult to ride. (Gregorio) Lavilla and Eric Bostrom had the same tyre so I was in close company. We look forward to receiving the upgraded engines, but this won't be for some time which makes it very hard at the moment, especially on these fast circuits."

RESULTS - RACE 1 (20 laps):
POS	RIDER	MOTORCYCLE	RACE TIME
1.	Colin Edwards (U.S.)	Castrol Honda	43:27.508
2.	Noriyuki Haga (Japan)	Playstation 2 Aprilia	43:34.866
3.	Neil Hodgson (GB)	HM Planet Ducati	44:00.498
4.	Pierfrancesco Chili (Italy)	NCR Ducati	44:19.106
5.	Troy Bayliss (Australia)	Infostrada Ducati	44:22.230
6.	Mark Heckles (GB)	Castrol Honda	44:28.636
7.	Ben Bostrom (U.S.)	L&M Ducati	44:30.139
8.	Ruben Xaus (Spain)	Infostrada Ducati	44:40.033
9.	Shane Byrne (GB)	Renegade Ducati	44:42.734
10.	James Toseland (GB)	HM Plant Ducati	44:51.178
OTHER:
13.	Peter Goddard (Australia)	Benelli Sport Tornado	45:02.106
FASTEST LAP: Bayliss 2-min 5.551-secs

RESULTS - RACE 2 (18 laps):
POS	RIDER	MOTORCYCLE	RACE TIME
1.	Troy Bayliss (Australia)	Infostrada Ducati	41:20.474
2.	Colin Edwards (U.S.)	Castrol Honda	41:25.383
3.	Ruben Xaus (Spain)	Infostrada Ducati	41:37.130
4.	Chris Walker (GB)	Kawasaki Racing	42:18.909
5.	Shane Byrne (GB)	Renegade Ducati	42:21.540
6.	Neil Hodgson (GB)	HM Planet Ducati	42:32.455
7.	Juan Borja (Spain)	Spaziotel Ducati	42:35.886
8.	Ben Bostrom (U.S.)	L&M Ducati	42:37.796
9.	James Toseland (GB)	HM Plant Ducati	42:45.360
10.	Noriyuki Haga (Japan)	Playstation 2 Aprilia	43:01.781
OTHER:
15.	Peter Goddard (Australia)	Benelli Sport Tornado	lap down
FASTEST LAP: Bayliss 2-min 2.145-secs

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after round 6): Bayliss 260, Edwards 231, Hodgson 157, Haga 129, Xaus 120, Bostrom 119, Toseland 81, Walker 73, Lavilla 60, Borja 53. Other: Goddard 6

MEDIA ENQUIRES: Mike Porter - Tel: (07) 5591-1773, (0417) 311-997. Fax: (07) 5591-4955. E-Mail: mikep@qldnet.com