Davide Tardozzi believes that Casey Stoner was ‘one of the best of all time’ when it comes to natural talent. But he says one rider with similar gifts never really showed them in the premier class.
Tardozzi was working for Ducati’s World Superbikes arm when Stoner won the 2007 MotoGP title for the Borgo Panigale outfit. But he didn’t need to be in the same garage to appreciate what Stoner was capable of.
Stoner is the only Australian to win a premier-class title since the 2002 rebrand. Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan had triumphed in the 1980s and ’90s respectively.
Greenacre native Anthony Gobert looked like he had the potential to join the list. But his career is a story of what could have been.
Davide Tardozzi raved about the talent of Anthony Gobert
In a recent interview with Speedweek, Tardozzi said Gobert had ‘amazing’ ability. The reality of racing, though, is that ‘talent alone’ is not enough.
“One of the most talented riders I’ve seen in my entire career was Anthony Gobert,” said Tardozzi. “He had pure talent like Casey Stoner. And what did Anthony Gobert achieve? He was an amazing talent and in his first year on the 500cc Suzuki, he showed things that no one else could do.
“Talent alone won’t win you championships; it takes more than that. Racing drivers are athletes. In football, too, there are many talented players who disappear from the scene after two or three years. And then there are players like Ronaldo or Messi, who have more than just talent.”
By the time he made his 500cc Grand Prix debut in 1997, Gobert was a six-time race winner in World Superbikes. He scored points in eight of his nine races for Suzuki.
The 21-year-old was let go following a positive drug test, and while he made another five 500cc appearances, he never managed to score a podium. He did add two more WSBK victories, the last of which came at Phillip Island in 2000.
Gobert was just 25 when he made his final start in the series. He passed away last year due to an illness.
Who does Davide Tardozzi regard as the ‘number one’ MotoGP rider ever?
Tardozzi says Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi are both ‘icons’ in the motorcycle world. He’s campaigned for peace between the two bitter rivals.
The Italian has responded angrily to the fans who have given Marquez a hostile reception since he joined the Ducati factory squad. He memorably gestured to the Mugello grandstands that his rider was wearing the ‘rosso’ of the country’s premier team.
Speaking after he sealed the 2025 title, Tardozzi said Marquez is ‘the best in history’. That may not go down well with some of his fellow countrymen, but he clearly feels it can’t be denied after the Ant of Cervera completed a remarkable comeback from injury.
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