AnthGobert_A

Profile: Anthony Gobert

 

 

 

Anthony Gobert knows how to win. At race tracks in the U.S. and all around the world, he’s climbed onto the podium time and time again, including many appearances on the top step. And although he’s come close—very close—so far he hasn’t won an AMA road racing championship. So that’s the goal he’s set for himself this year.

 

 

 

“I’ve shown that I can win races,” the oldest of the three racing Gobert brothers said. “But this year on the Erion Racing team I’m looking to put it all together and take a championship.”

 

 

 

Like many top-echelon riders, Anthony Gobert began his racing career early—in his case, at 10 years of age. A solid start in dirt-track and motocross competition yielded an amazing win record with 17 Australian motocross and short-track championships, a New Zealand championship and 32 state titles.

 

 

 

Still in his early teens, Anthony was nonetheless fully prepared to make a seamless transition to road racing. His rapid success earned him a Superbike ride at the Phillip Island Stars of Tomorrow event and Honda Racing Australia quickly snatched him up for the 1993 season. At 17, he became the youngest ever rider to secure a factory backed Superbike ride, and he notched three top-ten finishes from four starts in the 1993 Australian Superbike Championship.

 

 

 

In 1994 Anthony climbed aboard the new RC45 Honda, which he rode to the Australian Superbike Championship over Marty Craggill and Mat Mladin. HRC invited Anthony to compete in the Sugo round of the World Superbike Championship, where he was the highest qualifying Honda rider and recorded 8th- and 6th-place finishes.

 

 

 

Anthony began contesting the World Superbike series that same year, and his first full season in 1995 netted him a laudable 4th place by season’s end. After he suffered some injuries in 1996, he missed nearly half the season. He secured a ride in World 500 Grand Prix for 1997, then headed to America where he campaigned for the Vance & Hines Team in 1998 and 1999. Only Miguel Duhamel scored more race wins than Anthony during 1998, solid results that contributed to a 9th-place finish. The next year, Gobert finished the season with more race wins than any other rider—but still no championship.

 

 

 

The 2000 season saw Anthony return to a full-time ride in the World Superbike Championship, this time with troubled Italian company Bimota. By season’s end the company was entering bankruptcy and the team folded.

 

 

 

Back in America in 2001, Gobert competed in the AMA Superbike and Supersport series. He won events in both classes, but DNFs and mechanical failures cost him the Superbike Championship. However, Anthony did take 2nd place in the Supersport class that year. The 2002 season was plagued with injuries, and 2003 also yielded mixed results.

 

 

 

“I’ve watched Anthony for a number of years and he definitely has shown plenty of speed on the track,” said team owner Kevin Erion. “But what really impresses me is Anthony’s grit and determination; on a number of occasions he bounced back quickly after getting hurt and ran right at the front of the pack. That tells a lot about his level of desire.”

 

 

 

“I’m ready to put the past couple seasons behind me,” Gobert said. “This is a great opportunity I have, racing in the new Superstock class with a team that knows how to win. This time I want that American championship.”

 

Statistics: Anthony Gobert

 

 

 

2003

 

• 20th AMA Superbike

 

 

 

2002

 

• 15th AMA Superbike

 

• 13th AMA Supersport

 

 

 

2001

 

• 2nd AMA Supersport

 

• 6th AMA Superbike

 

 

 

2000

 

• 25th World Superbike

 

 

 

1999

 

• 3rd AMA Superbike

 

 

 

1998

 

• 9th AMA Superbike

 

 

 

1997

 

• 15th World 500cc Grand Prix Series

 

 

 

1996

 

• 8th World Superbike

 

 

 

1995

 

• 4th World Superbike

 

 

 

1994

 

• 1st Australian Superbike

 

• 17th World Superbike

 

 

 

Born: March 5, 1975, Greenacre, New South Wales, Australia

 

Residence: Tuscany Hills, California

 

National #: 16

 

Began riding: 1985, age 10

 

First race: 1985, age 10

 

Training: Motocross, bicycle riding, weight lifting, swimming

 

Hobbies: Motocross, PWC riding, wake boarding, video games

 

Height/weight: 5' 7"/140 lbs.

 

Marital status: Single

 

Current race bike: Honda CBR1000RR

 

Mechanic: Greggor Sefzic

 

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