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Ex-WSBK and 500cc star Anthony Gobert dies aged 48
Anthony Gobert, a former professional motorcycle racer, tragically passed away as confirmed by his mother Suzanne Gobert in a heartfelt Facebook post. He struggled with addiction, which his mother mentioned in her post, and despite numerous attempts to overcome it, he was unable to succeed. Gobert initially made a name for himself in motocross before transitioning to road racing. In 1994, he achieved remarkable success in a wildcard World Superbike (WSBK) appearance, securing pole position, a podium, and a victory all in one weekend. He eventually had a full-time ride with Kawasaki, winning two more races and achieving his best championship finish of fourth. However, his career hit rocky ground when he failed a drug test in the 500cc category (now MotoGP) in 1997 and was subsequently dismissed from his team. Despite some later victories in WSBK and continued racing in Australia and the US, Gobert faced ongoing struggles with addiction, legal issues, and health problems, ultimately leading to his untimely passing.