“They say a cat has nine lives. I’m at least on my tenth”. After admitting his heroin addiction in 2006 during a trial for speeding without a license, the “wild child”, or “wild child”, resigns himself. Australian justice sentenced him to 300 hours of community service. Even if he manages to avoid prison once again, the heyday of the world championship is over.
Because yes, before all this, Gobert was a professional driver. A pure talent, with a great sense of surpassing himself. It all started at the end of the 1980s. Young Anthony, born in 1975 not far from Sydney, cut his teeth in motocross. National champion on dirt, he decided to move onto the track like many other young people his age.
Immediately it was a success. While he dominated the Australian Superbike championship in 1994, his prowess was spotted by the small world of WSBK. A wild card will be granted to him for the two Japanese rounds contested on the Sugo track. On his Honda RC45, he finished eighth and sixth respectively, a very good start.
While he won a national title, he was again invited to take part in a Superbike round, but this time, his home on a Kawasaki. At the time, there were many ocean pilots: Simon Crafar, Aaron Slight or even Troy Corser dream of shining in these latitudes.
However, it is indeed the “Go Show”, 19, who steals the show. To everyone's surprise, he took pole position ahead of the big names
Scott Russell et
Carl Fogarty. During the first round, Anthony was not shy and took on the champions, finishing third.
“Go Show” in butt patch. Watch out for sparks.
Starting again from first position, Gobert won masterfully in the second round and became the youngest winner in WSBK. Rarely have we seen raw talent so fast, incisive and determined. Certainly, this is the future.
Team Muzzy Kawasaki jumped at the chance and hired the prodigy full-time the following year. At first discreet, it reveals itself mid-season and rewards us with legendary moments. Thanks to a consistency worthy of the greatest, he managed to climb fourth overall in 1995. The ambition was high for 1996 but a nasty injury marred his season, forcing him to give up the handlebars for several months. After missing four races, his return is scheduled for...Phillip Island. The stakes are zero, but “Go Show” delights the spectators by winning twice. Here we have the future successor of Mick doohan, quite simply.
At 22 years old in 1997, he was already in the box Suzuki
factory in 500cc Grands Prix. Stuart Shenton, veteran of the MotoGP paddock and legendary chief mechanic describes Anthony in the most honest way possible: “Gobert never wanted to change anything. We have had the highest brake temperatures with it. When we offered him a new setting even though he had put the fork all the way, he didn't care, it suited him just like that.". A confusing temperament.
“After testing on the Eastern Creek circuit, we were all waiting for his first feedback on the machine. Anthony sat down, and the six Japanese engineers were ready to take notes. “I need two things: a “dancer” in the back of the garage and some beers in a fridge,” he told us before getting up and leaving. The Japanese were stunned” continues Stuart in the columns of Motorsport Magazine.
Here on Ducati, Gobert will remain forever linked to these two years 1995 and 1996, on the green Kawasaki bearing the number 4.
According to the latter, the “wild child”
was a greater talent than
Freddie spencer, that is to say. In 1997, the results were far from bad (five top 10s in nine races) but the first problems were rearing their ugly head. The Aussie tested positive for marijuana, resulting in his dismissal before the end of the season.
Having left for the USA for the AMA championship, he will never again find his former level despite some flashes. On the GP side, we saw him a few times in 1999 on a Muz Weber, then in 2000 on a modenas à
Donington. This is Anthony's last appearance in the world championship.
In the meantime, his addiction to cannabis had cost him his place across the Atlantic. 2000 was marked by a magnificent victory in WSBK in the rain, still on the hills of Phillip Island (quite a symbol), while he was piloting a
Bimota Inefficient.
What follows is a descent into hell. He attempted unsuccessful returns to the United States, but was again fined for drunk driving. In 2006, his addiction to opioids came to light. His demons, since then, have unfortunately never left him. Following an altercation in a restaurant in 2019, Gobert was the victim of a gang attack organized at his home. Disfigured, he does not go far from death.
Anthony was a shooting star. Let us wish him to return to a stable and healthy lifestyle; This would represent the greatest victory of his career. Long live the Go Show!
Cover photo: Dieter Gerhards
