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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 7 2009, 05:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Does if you're old and retired and just finished your shopping outside of a supermarket in Surfers Paradise one afternoon. Do you think that old boy thinks the fact that Gobert was supposedly a 'very talented rider' means ....?

Very talented riders invariably perform all over the world consistently, and in the face of adversity. One of the most talented riders you've seen? You amaze me 'Son' because you've clearly been around the block a bit.

O.K talented riders that I've seen? Sheene, KRsnr, Gardner, Joey, Foggy, Doohan, Rainey, Schwantz, Lawson, Bayliss, Kato, Hizzy, and ultimately Rossi and Spencer, - a selection of riders off the top of my head that I have watched race from trackside that were and are in the category of supreme natural talent, it's a slightly different league isn't it; -none of whom Gobert would even be worthy of greasing a chain for. And that's not to mention the guys that I never had the privilege to have seen at a circuit...the Hailwoods, the Ago's, the Nieto's, Bill Ivy, Jarno, etc etc

I've never subscribed to the flawed genius label...in and on their day, none of these guys allowed themselves to be flawed .... ups week in week out, and on the odd occasion they did, their talent still somehow shone through. That's the difference. Fast Freddie burnt out and became a spent force precisely because of his unnatural talent..not for the love of a $30 wrap.

What model 'high horse' do you ride? I'd like to get myself one!

Pete and Roger are right ... he is a flawed genius.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (krusty @ Mar 6 2009, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What model 'high horse' do you ride? I'd like to get myself one!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 7 2009, 05:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Does if you're old and retired and just finished your shopping outside of a supermarket in Surfers Paradise one afternoon. Do you think that old boy thinks the fact that Gobert was supposedly a 'very talented rider' means ....?
I'm not condoning anything he's done. He's ...... up and wasted his talents. I'm sorry to say, that has happened, and I'm sure the person he allegedly mugged doesn't care either. Although he was charged with this crime, I can't find anywhere that has reported whether he was convicted. Still, we all know he's ...... up badly.
The reason I say he's the most talented rider I've seen is because I've never seen anyone decimate fields like he did in motorcross and supercross, then when he switched to road racing, he was immediately decimating everyone on the track. He was freakish. Yes, I've seen most of the riders you talk about, barring the Hailwoods etc, but I never saw most of them in their very early years. Sadly, we'll never know what could have been - something I firmly believe would have been remarkable.
I'll defend him, as sadly he doesn't seem capable of defending himself anymore. Drugs can be great fun in moderation, but sometimes they quickly take hold of certain people/personalities and destroy them. Regrettably, the latter has taken Anthony Gobert.
It's happened to many a gifted person and will happen again and again in the future. That's life. Just writing this makes me feel sad about what could of been.

@ Arrabbiata1: To be talented is not the same as to be successful.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Mar 7 2009, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>@ Arrabbiata1: To be talented is not the same as to be successful.
At no point did I suggest that it was.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Mar 7 2009, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not condoning anything he's done. He's ...... up and wasted his talents. I'm sorry to say, that has happened, and I'm sure the person he allegedly mugged doesn't care either. Although he was charged with this crime, I can't find anywhere that has reported whether he was convicted. Still, we all know he's ...... up badly.
The reason I say he's the most talented rider I've seen is because I've never seen anyone decimate fields like he did in motorcross and supercross, then when he switched to road racing, he was immediately decimating everyone on the track. He was freakish. Yes, I've seen most of the riders you talk about, barring the Hailwoods etc, but I never saw most of them in their very early years. Sadly, we'll never know what could have been - something I firmly believe would have been remarkable.
I'll defend him, as sadly he doesn't seem capable of defending himself anymore. Drugs can be great fun in moderation, but sometimes they quickly take hold of certain people/personalities and destroy them. Regrettably, the latter has taken Anthony Gobert.
It's happened to many a gifted person and will happen again and again in the future. That's life. Just writing this makes me feel sad about what could of been.
Good points made - fair do's...good post

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Mar 7 2009, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not condoning anything he's done. He's ...... up and wasted his talents. I'm sorry to say, that has happened, and I'm sure the person he allegedly mugged doesn't care either. Although he was charged with this crime, I can't find anywhere that has reported whether he was convicted. Still, we all know he's ...... up badly.
The reason I say he's the most talented rider I've seen is because I've never seen anyone decimate fields like he did in motorcross and supercross, then when he switched to road racing, he was immediately decimating everyone on the track. He was freakish. Yes, I've seen most of the riders you talk about, barring the Hailwoods etc, but I never saw most of them in their very early years. Sadly, we'll never know what could have been - something I firmly believe would have been remarkable.
I'll defend him, as sadly he doesn't seem capable of defending himself anymore. Drugs can be great fun in moderation, but sometimes they quickly take hold of certain people/personalities and destroy them. Regrettably, the latter has taken Anthony Gobert.
It's happened to many a gifted person and will happen again and again in the future. That's life. Just writing this makes me feel sad about what could of been.
Bear in mind this is MCN so take it for what its worth.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Anthony Gobert, who was once considered among the most naturally talented riders ever to throw a leg over a motorcycle appeared in court last week – unemployed and charged with stealing a handbag and robbing a pensioner.

Gobert was first charged on Tuesday, police alleging he stole two $20 notes from the hand of a 70-year-old man who was paying for groceries at a supermarket in Surfers Paradise.

Just one day later he was arrested again, this time on charges of stealing the purse of a 31-year-old woman, again in Surfers Paradise. He denies both allegations.

During the bail hearing on Thursday, Magistrate Michael Hogan said: “This alleged two day crime rampage, to use an inappropriate phrase, involved snatching $40 from a 70-year-old man and a purse from a woman. It is totally appalling behaviour.”

Gobert repeatedly interrupted both the magistrate and his own solicitor Claire Boothman during the hearing, telling them he was a professional motorcycle rider, but later admitting he was unemployed and recently applied for a job at Subway.

He was granted bail until a hearing on June 11, but was ordered to surrender his passport and not to enter the areas of Surfers Paradise where the crimes were committed while he was on bail.
link

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 6 2009, 08:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's the difference. Fast Freddie burnt out and became a spent force precisely because of his unnatural talent..not for the love of a $30 wrap.
Whilst I do not recall any mention of it in the day, I thought that it subsequently became apparent that freddie's latter career was blighted by a medical problem not fully appreciated at the time (?arm pump).

Whilst I agree that anthony gobert appeared to have enormous inborn talent, great riders also need to have discipline and mental strength which he unfortunately did not have. I see some hypocrisy in attitudes in general towards recreational drugs other than the legal ones, alcohol and nicotine, but I don't think they can be mixed in any way with high level competition bike riding; if he was prepared to do this I guess it is not surprising if he did graduate to knocking over pensioners.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 5 2009, 06:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>+1. I love this topic!
But prepare to be inundated by posts reminding us of 'that' Bimota ride, the zxr...that he was the most naturally talented person to ever race a motorcycle etc etc, (hi 'Gaz', 'Son of D') ...er, no he wasn't
- I couldn't give a .... if he was the supposed second coming; ones personal prowess toward racing motorcycles in a circle means jack when you're in the business of mugging elderly people on 'Surfers' to guarantee the next fix.

You got me hooked.

I stand by everything I have said of Gobert in that he is without shadow the most naturally talented rider of a racing motorcycle I have seen in person. Fullstop.

There, I said it again.

But, ones ability at one facet does not mean that they will be the greatest in their field, nor does it mean that they will be successful or become or need to be a pillar of society. In Gobert's case, like many people before, since and sadly ahead he fell victim to a scourge of society that in his case has led to the inability to earn a living at what I suspect is the one thing at which he is truly talented, that being motorcycle racing.

Just because the depths to which he has sunk have now sadly seen him resort to crime does not and should not diminish his on track achievements, nor (IMO) should it dampen how he is thought of as a racer. But it should play a part in how one thinks of Anthony as a person and his overall achievements again as a person, an area in which IMO he failed.

As for anyu conviction, I recall somewhere that he did get some penalty but cannot recall what it may have been, but by no means is he at the Kim Ashkenazi level of falls from grace (in Aussie terms) yet.

As for those you mention all have extreme or sublime talent and all utilised it to achieve their levels of success and just reward, but again, to me Gobert had more natural talent but just failed dismally to achieve what could have been.

But SoD perhaps said it best.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Mar 7 2009, 01:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not condoning anything he's done. He's ...... up and wasted his talents. I'm sorry to say, that has happened, and I'm sure the person he allegedly mugged doesn't care either. Although he was charged with this crime, I can't find anywhere that has reported whether he was convicted. Still, we all know he's ...... up badly.
The reason I say he's the most talented rider I've seen is because I've never seen anyone decimate fields like he did in motorcross and supercross, then when he switched to road racing, he was immediately decimating everyone on the track. He was freakish. Yes, I've seen most of the riders you talk about, barring the Hailwoods etc, but I never saw most of them in their very early years. Sadly, we'll never know what could have been - something I firmly believe would have been remarkable.
I'll defend him, as sadly he doesn't seem capable of defending himself anymore. Drugs can be great fun in moderation, but sometimes they quickly take hold of certain people/personalities and destroy them. Regrettably, the latter has taken Anthony Gobert.
It's happened to many a gifted person and will happen again and again in the future. That's life. Just writing this makes me feel sad about what could of been.






Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Mar 8 2009, 06:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whilst I agree that anthony gobert appeared to have enormous inborn talent, great riders also need to have discipline and mental strength which he unfortunately did not have. I see some hypocrisy in attitudes in general towards recreational drugs other than the legal ones, alcohol and nicotine, but I don't think they can be mixed in any way with high level competition bike riding; if he was prepared to do this I guess it is not surprising if he did graduate to knocking over pensioners.


I woudl not call AG a 'great' as IMO he did not achieve what I feel is required to make a person a 'great' within his chosen field, and in reality he did not even get close to achieving greatness (sadly IMO).

I find it interesting that a person can be excused for fighting and/or commiting acts whilst drunk as a 'bit of harmless drunken fun', but a genuine addict commits a criminal offence (just as a drunken assault) and he is 'hung out to dry'. Thsi is not excusing AG's action as the offences mentioned are not his first run-in's with the law and despite the best efforts of his family I strongly suspect that they will not be his last and maybe a bit of jail time will help.






Garry

Rossi's weight gain explained:

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i wondered why they put a soundover of a 2 stroke moto-x bike hitting a powerband when they are on a moped

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ Mar 15 2009, 06:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi's weight gain explained:

Ummmmmnnnn...brown fat and sugar the breakfast of champions. You are definitely onto something there.

LOL, why is it in Spanish?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ Mar 15 2009, 10:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi's weight gain explained:

<object width="425" height="350<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/<object width="425" height="344<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1TMmKIaCZmw&hl=en&fs=1</param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true</param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always</param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1TMmKIaCZmw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344</embed></object></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent</param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/<object width="425" height="344<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1TMmKIaCZmw&hl=en&fs=1</param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true</param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always</param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1TMmKIaCZmw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344</embed></object>" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350</embed></object>


ps/ love the new avi.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Mar 16 2009, 11:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>

ps/ love the new avi.


now that you've mentioned it...i love the new avi too

Thanks Rog & writer, it's actually from a t shirt. You can get flags of all nations

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Mar 16 2009, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>LOL, why is it in Spanish?Damn, I was like... .... I can speak Italian lmao