Superbike Champion Anthony Gobert Passed Away at 48

Anthony Gobert, nicknamed The Go Show, passed away on January 17, 2024, at the age of 48. A professional Australian motorcycle racer, Anthony Gobert had a hard time overcoming his drug addiction, which led to his professional downfall. Winner of the final round of the 1994 Superbike Championship held at Phillip Island, Anthony Gobert, who was only 19 at that time, emerged as a prodigy, becoming the youngest-ever Superbike Champion. Eventually, Yuichi Takeda, an 18-year-old, broke his record by winning the Championship in 1996 at Sugo.

In January 2024, it was reported that Gobert was receiving care for an unknown terminal stage illness on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Unfortunately, the 48-year-old star motocross racer lost the battle of life, leaving his family, friends, fans, and the motocross racing world mourning his untimely death.

Confirming his death, Anthony Gobert’s mother, Sue, shared a post on Facebook that read:

“My heart is breaking as I write this as my first born beautiful son Anthony has passed late this afternoon. I loved him from the moment he was born until the day he died. At times, he was challenging, to say the least, but he always had a kind heart and cared for everyone. Sadly, he was a victim of addiction which runs deeply in our families. He tried many times to get better, but he couldn’t quite make it. I am so proud of him and thank all those good people who added to his life. You know who you are.”

Anthony Gobert was recognized as the promising talent of his generation of racers as he had acquired several supercross and motocross titles in Australia. However, his career achieved a breakthrough with the most memorable victory at the 1994 Australian Superbike Championship for Winfield Honda. The same year, he made quite an appearance at the WorldSBK, winning the second race as Muzzy Kawasaki’s wildcard. After this win at the Phillip Island, Gobert stayed with the Muzzy Kawasaki team for another two seasons before transitioning to the Lucky Strike Suzuki team. Though he was expected to represent the team in the 1997 season, he tested positive for marijuana – an addiction that later resulted in the absolute derailment of his career.

Luckily, his career was not over just yet. He participated in eight seasons of the AMA Superbike Championships in the United States, representing Vance & Hines Ducati, Erion Honda, and factory Yamaha teams. In 2000, Gobert also made a temporary return to the WorldSBK with the factory Bimota team. In 2005, Gobert returned to his native country after a “Driving Under the Influence” charge in Huntington Beach, California. Gobert remained active in the racing scene in Australia until 2007, but after several well-publicized legal incidents, he withdrew completely from the public eye.

Though Gobert had some issues and run-ins with the law, he was by no means a notorious person. Recently, some individuals unleashed their hatred towards the seasoned motorcycle racer by uploading videos on social media in which Gobert is barely recognizable. The nature of these videos made it clear that they were not uploaded in good faith. To do such a thing when Gobert was breathing his last was a lowly act. Anthony Gobert had his flaws and problems, but he was a dignified person who never harmed anyone. Those close to him always praised him not only for his outstanding motorcycle racing skills but also for his kind personality and big-heartedness. The legend will always be remembered not only for winning races but also for ruling hearts.

Rest in Peace Anthony Gobert