Former Superbike (SBK) and 500cc motorcycle racing legend Anthony Gobert passes away at the age of 48

The Untimely Passing of Anthony Gobert Leaves a Void in Motorsport

Heartbreaking news struck the motorsport community as Suzanne Gobert, mother of talented racer Anthony Gobert, confirmed his untimely death. In a heartfelt Facebook post, she shared not only about his life on and off the track but also shed light on his struggle with addiction.

“My heart is breaking as I write this as my first born beautiful son Anthony has passed late this afternoon,” she wrote. “I loved him from the moment he was born until the day I die. At times he was challenging, to say the least, but he always had a kind heart and cared for everyone.”

Anthony’s journey in motorsports began with motocross before branching out into various disciplines. However, it was during a wildcard appearance at Phillip Island in 1994 that he truly captured attention by achieving an incredible feat – securing pole position, stepping onto the podium, and clinching victory all within one weekend.

This stellar performance led to an opportunity to race full-time with Kawasaki over two seasons where he added two more victories to his name while finishing fourth in the championship standings.

A Promising Career Interrupted

With success came new opportunities. In 1997, Anthony transitioned into MotoGP’s predecessor category known as 500cc (now MotoGP). Impressively, he secured a seventh-place finish in only his second race. However, tragedy struck when he was abruptly dismissed from the team for failing a drug test before completing his maiden season in the premier class.

A Life Marked by Struggles

Despite setbacks, Anthony persevered. He made a comeback with MuZ Weber in 1999 but unfortunately faced non-sporting issues that cut short his return to racing. It wasn’t until 2000 that Gobert found himself back on track in World Superbike Championship (WSBK) with Bimota, securing what would be his eighth and final victory.

As the years went on, Anthony continued racing both domestically and internationally while battling personal demons related to addiction. In 2008, he even faced legal consequences after being convicted of robbery. Later on, an unfortunate altercation at a restaurant left him hospitalized after sustaining severe injuries from a baseball bat attack in 2019.

More recently, it has been reported by Anthony’s brother Aaron that he had been facing serious health issues leading up to palliative care prior to his untimely passing this week.

“Sadly he was a victim of addiction which runs deeply in our families,” Suzanne Gobert shared. “He tried many times to get better but he couldn’t quite make it.”

An Iconic Figure Remembered

During the peak of his career, Anthony earned himself the nickname ‘The Go Show’ due to his flamboyant persona both on and off the track. Despite the challenges he faced, he left an indelible mark on the motorsport world.

We remember Anthony Gobert not only for his accomplishments as a racer but also for the battles he fought throughout his life. Our thoughts go out to Suzanne Gobert and all those who knew and loved him during this difficult time.