Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Anthony Gobert is present and happy to be riding for the Corona Extra TiForce Endurance team in practice for the Suzuka 8-Hours Thursday in Japan after surviving a recent car accident.

“I was involved in a pretty bad car accident about three weeks ago in Australia,” said the Australian Thursday at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. “I don’t want to go into all the details, but I banged my head and my back up pretty good. I’ve been out of action for the last few weeks; I haven’t been able to train like I’ve wanted to. I would’ve liked to have been in better shape.”



Gobert said he felt a little out of shape on the #68 Corona Extra TiForce Suzuki GSX-R1000 XX-F Division One machine and that he was taking his time getting up to full speed. “Yesterday we got a few laps in an open practice, but I struggled a lot because I haven’t been on a road race bike in so long,” said Gobert. “I’m getting more of a feel for it today. I went six seconds faster today than yesterday. I could push a little harder and go a little quicker, but we’re under strict orders not to crash the bike.”

Things are already going better in 2003 than the last time Gobert was at Suzuka when he teamed with Noriyuki Haga on a factory Yamaha YZF-R7. “When I was here last with Haga we were conflicting over every change to the bike. We just couldn’t agree on anything on the set-up. With Crusty (Adam Fergusson), we just agree on everything the bike is doing and every change we’ve made so far. I really like that.”

Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Landers Sevier, the driving force behind the team’s Suzuka effort, said he has won over $600 in bets made by AMA series regulars against Gobert showing up at Suzuka.

“I feel really fortunate to get the call from Landers,” said Gobert. “I just want to prove to everyone that this year wasn’t my fault. I’m really having a good time with the Corona guys, and that goes a long way when you’re racing.”

The second Corona bike, the #86 Corona Light TiForce Endurance Suzuki GSX-R1000, will be ridden by Jordan Szoke and Paul Young, an Australian who races a Yamaha in the British Superbike Championship and was recommended to the team by Fergusson.


More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Suzuki:

CORONA EXTRA SUZUKI ENDURANCE TAKES ON THE WORLD AT SUZUKA 8 HOUR

Corona Extra Suzuki Endurance is once again competing in the world’s most prestigious race – the 8 Hours of Suzuka. For the 2003 event, CESE has assembled a team of World-class riders to go after wins in the Super Production (SP) and Xperimental Formula (XF) classes.

In 2002, CESE with riders Adam Fergusson and Jordan Szoke achieved tenth overall and third in Super Production, an amazing first time achievement. For 2003 Adam and Jordan will again be riding, this time teamed with Anthony Gobert, Paul Young and alternate Sean Giles. Fergusson and Gobert will be on the XF Corona Extra Suzuki GSXR 1000 with Szoke and Young pairing up on the SP Corona Light GSXR 1000.