Australian former MotoGP Anthony Gobert, a talented individual, has passed away due to his struggles with addiction, as confirmed by his mother.
MotoGP world mourns loss of former prodigy Gobert
The individual, who was 48 years old, died on Wednesday following a brief period in palliative care.
Suzanne, the mother of Gobert, expressed her deep sorrow while writing about the recent passing of her beloved first son, Anthony.
“I had an intense affection for him starting from the instant he came into this world until my last breath.”
“On certain occasions, he could be difficult, to say the least, but he consistently displayed a compassionate nature and showed concern for everyone.”
“Regrettably, he fell victim to a deeply ingrained addiction that runs in our family. Despite repeated attempts, he was unable to fully overcome it.”
“I have immense pride in him and express gratitude towards all the kind individuals who have contributed positively to his life. You are aware of your identities.”
Gobert’s legacy will live on in MotoGP
The person who was lovingly called “The Go Show” participated in various competitions from 1994 to 2006, including racing in the Grand Prix seasons of 1997, 1999, and 2006, as well as seven seasons of Superbike World Championships, where he was teammates with fellow Australians Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner.
Five days ago, Suzanne acknowledged that her son had been accepted into a hospital located on the Gold Coast, where he was being provided with end-of-life treatment.
“Regrettably, we must inform you that Anthony is presently admitted to receive palliative care at the hospital, as he is in the last phase of his life after a brief illness,” she penned prior to his passing.
“Kindly note that we will provide any updates that become available in the near future.”
“In this challenging period, the distribution of videos featuring Anthony, which capture a troubled phase in his life, is highly worrying. Nevertheless, we are grateful to all his supporters who have stood by him throughout his racing career on behalf of Anthony.”
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Gobert’s death a reminder of the dangers of addiction
The ex-racer proudly achieved top three finishes in Australia, England, Austria, and the United States.
Gobert, at the age of 19, achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the youngest ever winner in the SWC race. This significant victory took place during the last round of the 1994 season at Phillip Island in Victoria. However, this record was later surpassed two years afterwards.
Gobert’s history was marked by a troubled past involving drug and alcohol problems. As a result, in 1997, he lost his position on the Suzuki factory 500cc Grand Prix team after failing a drug test.
In 2004, his addiction deepened as his girlfriend at the time, Suni Dixon, passed away, causing his life to deteriorate even more.
While on trial for driving with an expired license in 2006, Gobert acknowledged that he was grappling with a heroin addiction.
After two years, he was found guilty and sentenced to prison for stealing from a 70-year-old retiree and a 31-year-old female.
