PeterGoddardMarch2000

Australia's Peter Goddard has completed a series of productive pre-season tests in Spain on his new Kawasaki in preparation for the 2000 British Superbike Championship motorcycle series starting in two weeks.

The 35-year-old tested his Kawasaki Britain ZX-7RR four-stroke superbike at the Albacete circuit from March 5-7, and at Cartegena the following day as a lead-up to the 12-round championship, which begins at Brands Hatch on March 26.

"I did some testing in Britain in cool weather last month (Feb), but it was warmer in Spain so this was really our first time on the bike in good track conditions," said Goddard.

"We spent most of the time at Albacete setting up the chassis; testing and adjusting the new White Power suspension to the way I like it. This gave me a general feel for the bike and I'm building up my confidence."

The 1997 World Endurance Champion recorded consistent lap times in the 1-min 32-secs bracket around the 3.5km Albacete circuit, within sight of the superbike race lap record of 1-min 31.5-secs set by Japan's Akira Yanagawa on a works Kawasaki in 1999.

Goddard continued evaluating his Kawasaki at Cartegena, but fell after a new rear tyre was fitted.

"The bike worked well there (Cartegena), which is always a good sign when you go straight to another track," he said.

"Unfortunately I slipped off late in the day without too much damage to the bike or myself. We put a better rear tyre on, which at this circuit is quite hard, to improve our (lap) times. It wasn't up to temperature when I came off."

Goddard joined the British Kawasaki team, managed by Simon Buckmaster, for 2000 after racing for the works Suzuki and Aprilia teams in the World Superbike Championship the past two years.

His past record also includes 17 starts in the 500cc world championship between 1990-97. He won the All-Japan 500cc Championship in 1991 and the Australian Superbike Championship in 1996.

In addition to racing in the British series this year, Goddard will also contest selected rounds of the 2000 World Superbike Championship.