Brands outing to signal WSBK return for Gobert?

The 2000 season may not have yielded all that was expected of it after Anthony Gobert's emotional victory for Bimota at Phillip Island, the firm dropping out of the World Superbike Championship mid-season after several proposed sponsorship deals fell through but despite that set-back the fiery Australian still has high hopes of a factory ride in the 2001 Championship.

Gobert will race in the 2000 season closer at Brands Hatch as a wildcard rider for the British Virgin Yamaha outfit as a replacement for the convalescing Steve Hislop who suffered a horrific crash at Paddock Hill bend back in August when WSBK's last graced the Kent circuit. Gobert will be amongst the favourites for victory if conditions are less than ideal and his two sparkling performances at the track in the British Superbike Championship recently cut him out as a man to beat.

The Australian rider has been subbing for Hislop in the final few rounds of the BSB Series and although he initially struggled with the Yamaha, his immense wet weather skills catapulted him up the field on the tight Brands Indy track. The WBSK Championship will be using the full Grand Prix track but even so, Gobert and the Virgin team will be definite one's to watch on October 15th.

Gobert has many reasons why he should perform well, not least that a good showing may lead to a possible factory deal in 2001. Despite his reputation, Gobert's temperament cooled noticeably this year and even though his long struggle with the Bimota went largely unrewarded there were no outbursts of frustration from the rider who went about his task with a great deal of maturity.

With Noriyuki Haga's future still uncertain, there is a potential vacancy with the factory Yamaha WSBK squad and even if Haga decides against moving to either Ducati Infostrada of the Yamaha Red Bull Grand Prix squad, the position of second rider Vitto Guareschi is far from secure.

A position with the team is far more likely if Haga does decide to switch camps as Gobert would become the number one rider in the team and hopefully continue where Haga left off, rather than play second fiddle to the Japanese star.

There is no doubt about Gobert's talent, which was there for all to see in his short time with Bimota, but the question still remains over his level of fitness and weight. Yamaha have already had enough problems this season with dietary supplements and the task of keeping Gobert on a strict fitness regime may not be just the thing that the team are looking for at the moment.