Anthony Gobert keert terug!

Gobert is trouwens ook nog een blauwe maadag de teamgenoot geweest van Jurgen he. Bij MuZ destijds.

Heeft ook nog bij MuZ gereden ten tijden van Jurgen. En in de WSBK, en in de AMA......... Overal voortijdig weg gegaan met ruzie en veel gescheld.

Tragedy Unfolding: Anthony Gobert

Whenever I hear Anthony Gobert's name, two memories immediately unfold in my mind. One is of Gobert riding the Muzzy Kawasaki in Friday practice Monza in 1995 or 1996; the session was winding down and Gobert was one of the few bikes left on the track. He and that Kawasaki were precision instruments in the back section at Monza, and as the sun streamed on my face the slight breeze blew through the wispy woods that make up Monza, it seemed, just for a moment, like I was witnessing racing perfection.

The other immediate memory that I have of Go-Show is of him battling with John Kocinski the next year at Laguna Seca. Gobert's run down the hill from the corkscrew and his flat-out amazing late-braking into Laguna Seca's final turn were beyond belief to even veteran race watchers. Gobert had the Muzzy bike so far leaned over that from some angles it looked like he was using the front brake disks to keep the bike up. Never in my life have I seen more people watch a race and then shake their heads in disbelief at what they were seeing than on that day.

When those two memories rush past in my head I always smile, no matter what I happen to be doing at the time.

Sadly, it became quite clear as he aged into his 20s that Anthony Gobert had and seemingly still has serious issues with addiction. Those issues and the situations that were brought about because of those addictions certainly curtailed Anthony's racing career, destroying it, in reality. Gobert has been racing in Australia on a semi-private Honda in the Australian Superbike series for the last year, in a low-key attempt to get him back in a place where he can race competitively again. It must certainly be soul-bending for him to do, as there were periods when Gobert was considered the most talented rider in the world.

Judging from a press report from Australia, the addiction demons that have shadowed the likable Australian for the last decade may have actually grown stronger instead of being corralled.

An Australian newspaper reported last week that Anthony Gobert was recently ticketed for driving without a license-for the third time in five months. The way it stands now, Gobert will not be able to legally drive in Australia until November 2010. He was fined $600 and sentenced to 300 hours of community service for his driving offense.

Disturbingly, according to the report, during Gobert's court appearance, his attorney stated that the reason Gobert had been out driving on the day when he was ticketed was to buy heroin, that Gobert now has issues with "heroin addiction".

The report also states that Gobert has an opportunity to race in the World Endurance series "later this year".

Gobert will turn 31 next month.

I am shocked to see all the letters about Anthony all over the web today.

What the article in the newspaper did not say is that Anthony completed rehab (at his own instigation) and has now been clean for many, many months.

The offences occurred a long time ago but the court hearing
was adjourned a couple of times so there has been a big gap
between the time of the offences and the court hearing.

This is the reason why he was not jailed but only given such a minor penalty compared to what he should have received because the judge was happy that Anthony had taken steps to turn his life around and is now completely drug free.

Anthony has had a serious drug problem for some time and has been fighting it for years, sometimes winning, sometimes not.

The "TALL POPPY SYNDROME" is alive and well in Australia and there are still many jealous people who just live to cause havoc to some people whom they consider to be better off than themselves.

Anthony has hurt himself more than anything and has tried very hard over the years to overcome his addiction. Some faceless person has sent the newspaper to every journalist worldwide and also to every one who is some way involved in the sport of motor cycle racing. It seems so unfair that he should be treated this way when he has finally overcome his addiction and was starting to get his life back together. So, I would be grateful if you could print this letter or some form of comment from me to stop all the uninformed discussion.
Thank you,
Sue Gobert

In a surprise announcement, Australian Anthony Gobert has confirmed that he will compete in the opening two rounds of the 2006 Supersport World Championship in Qatar (February 25) and Australia (March 5).

The immensely gifted 30-year-old, whose victory in the 1994 Australian Superbike Championship first propelled him onto the world stage, will deputise for injured Spanish rider David Checa, aboard the all-new Yamaha YZF-R6.

The New South Welshman, whose battles with alcohol and drugs over the years have been well documented, is ecstatic about the opportunity afforded him by the French-based GMT 94 squad, and is hoping to really put some runs on the board in his home round at Phillip Island.

“The whole deal came together really quickly,” said Gobert. “The GMT 94 team manager rang me over the weekend, and before I knew it the ride was locked in.

“There’s no doubt I’m going to be on a steep learning curve at Qatar, but by the time I get to Phillip Island I hope to have everything sorted and put on a really good show.

“And I reckon I’m on the best Supersport bike at the moment in the new YZF-R6. And one of my bikes will be straight from the Yamaha factory – which I didn’t expect, but I’m delighted with!”

Gobert already knows the fast way around Phillip Island, having won five of his eight world Superbike races at the iconic Victorian circuit.

Gobert, who will turn 31 during the Phillip Island weekend, still longs for a full-time return to the international arena after a couple of season spent back home in Australia.

“I’ve been travelling since I was 20, and to tell you the truth I’m getting a little bored back home in Oz,” said Gobert. “I would dearly love to race in another world title of some description, and if I do well I might be asked to complete in the rest of the Supersport World Championship. That would be awesome.”

However, even if world title incumbency doesn’t eventuate in 2006, Gobert will still compete outside of Australia in the Spanish Formula Extreme Championship, and he’s also struck a deal to compete in the famed Le Mans 24-hour endurance race alongside the rehabilitated Checa. GMT 94 is an endurance specialist, having won the 2004 world title.

“Yep, the Spanish deal is there, which would see me riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for one of the top teams (Austin Suzuki) in the Formula Extreme Championship,” continued the former 500cc GP rider. “I have always loved Spain, and I’ll base myself in Madrid during the season.”

Gobert will contest the Spanish Formula Extrema championship this year and will also make a wildcard start at the Spanish round of the World Supersport Championship, April 21-23, riding for the Coronas Motorrad Suzuki team. Coronas is a Spanish cigarette brand, not to be confused with the Mexican beer, Corona Extra, team sponsor for the World Champion Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki team and title sponsor for the World SBK series.

The following is from the Coronas Motorrad Suzuki team...

Team Motorrad Suzuki Motorrad has decided today to revoke the contract of the Australian rider Anthony Gobert.

During the present season the rider has not performed at the expected level in the Spanish National FX championship, and, as a result, after various consultations with suppliers and sponsors. It has been decided to dissolve the contract that united the parties.

The Coronas Suzuki Motorrad team wished Anthony Gobert every success in his professional and personal future.

The team, although currently competing with four riders, two in FX and two in Supersport, is negotiating the possibility of including an additional rider in its FX structure. This rider would take Gobert’s place and have at his disposition the support and material originally designated to the Australian. Although the conversations are at an advanced stage, there will not be time to resolve the matter prior to the Jerez round of the Spanish National Championship to be held on June 10 and 11.