We asked the hypothetical question whether Gobert could win at PPIR if he was given a ride this weekend. Readers responded:
Gobert's got nothing to lose if someone loaned him a superbike for Pike's Peak. He needs a job and fast. He'd go balls out to a 1st place or crash trying. Yeah, i think he'd win if a factory gave him a decent bike.

-- jason- Dante

He's not in shape to win this weekend, but he could take any of the top teams to a championship. He may or may not deserve another shot, but I'm betting he'll get one. --

-- Chris DiTrani

Put him on one of the Harley VR1000's...that would make an interesting race. Maybe Russell would let him ride his. LOL

All that said, I think Russell could win on the right bike.

-- Louis Gagne

On any factory bike except the Harley, sure. Still, I'd say put him on the Harley and promise him an obscenely huge bonus if he wins. That could be fun to watch.

-- Chris Glass

Yeah.. I would love to see him ride with mat mladin ..for team suzuki.....

--Alan Bezio

Harley ought to give him some big bucks to ride the last two races

-- Jeff Islett

Could Gobert jump on any superbike in the paddock and win? Hell yeah! With the exception of the Harley (he'd only get a top 3 with that cement mixer). Gobert may be a bit to handle, but he is a real talent, and I think he is finally realizing that his last chances are running out. I'd love to see Gobert out at Willow running a Yosh Suzuki. And no, I'm not really a Gobert fan, just think he's one hell of a rider.

-- Dave Kopfinger

Hell yeah he could win (plain and simple)! He'd shut Mladdin's mouth.

-- Ules Jackson (Ca)

I definitely think that, obviously under the right circumstances and the right bike, the "Go-Show" has it and can still do it--can you say Bimota Philip Island? Granted, this was a rain race, but look at all the other particulars of any given weekend--you still have to produce, and Tony G did here! I hope someone gives him the shot, and he does it again!

-- Mike Stuhr

Sure, Gobert has the stuff to win. With Ducati's team-du-jour strategy this year maybe they'll give him a ride.

But man, it will be a tough race for everybody whether Gobert's in there or not. Mladin is crazy enough to do anything right now for the title. Nicky's gotta be wanting it even more. Yates sure won't be sleeping at the wheel. It'd be a blast to see Anthony scrapping with those guys -- the Go-Show with nothing to lose, and them with everything to gain.

Myself, I'm rooting for Nicky to smell blood and show us the ride of his life, (and Eric B. to surprise us again).

-- Bob Sykes
San Francisco

Oh yes he can win on anything that has the speed and handling of this years bikes. If Pascal Picotte can podium on a slow VR1000, then this is a no-brainer. Dust off the leathers Tony, get to bed early and show your magic.

-- Travis Stidham

For God's sake, somebody please put him on a bike. I'm so damn sick of the have ear rings, painted hair twenty something's with $250,000 motorcycles that can't get out of their own way. Tommy Hayden got beat by Russell for God's sake, and Hayden is on a new R7! Fire him. Hacking crashes at least every third time he rides. Fire him. Pridmore is hurt all the time. Fire him. Chandler now needs his old Muzzy bike to go fast. Doug, time to give it up. Kocinski needs a psychiatrist ala Brian Wilson. Go away John, we don't care. Rapp makes rookie mistakes. Fire him. Pegram had to start his own team because he couldn't get a ride anywhere else. And is now in caution mode. Fire him.
All these teams spending all that money to place seventh to tenth. Must be too proud to win. Or too "smart" to hire Gobert.

-- John Jackish

I'm sure Anthony could win, And so does he. Hell he probably thinks he's there to race. The only thing is he can't find Ben. As he woke up late. Now he's waiting on Tommy Chong to get his bike set up.

-- Billy Baldwin

Gobert isn't as good as everyone thinks he is. The reason he dominated in AMA Superbike is because of a superior bike. Ducati had a World class bike while everyone else had a National level bike. That's why Ducati is not dominating this year. Everyone has a world class bike.

Paul Slatterly

Kind of an ironic turn of events:

1999, Pikes Peak. Has factory supported superbike ready to ride but doesn't show.

2000, Pikes Peak. Has no bike but shows up. (to ride?)

Weird.

Jeff Hoeppner

Harley Davidson wants their first ever superbike win and Gobert would give it to them, he could win on a Schwinn!

-Keith Fash

It's not ability that's Anthony's problem, it's his mentality. Thank Heavens racing's still got characters like him to liven things up! If his head's straight he'll win - his Australian WSB win proved that.

--Jon Clark

I would never bet against Anthony Gobert to win, or at least podium, any given race on any given bike. He has a natural ability the likes of which very few roadracers will ever know. And, despite the fact that it's hard not to like him, he has had some serious discipline problems which end up leaving him without a ride. So many teams could use his talent.

--TJ Noto

Yeah, Gobert is certainly talented enough to hop on as bike and win a race. Note that I sat, "a race." I don't think he has the discipline to put together a winning season. It's a shame, too, because he's a natural.

--John Smith

Of course he can win on almost anything! I say almost because the bike and team have to perform as well. Just look at Scott Russell and Harley-Davidson. There is a guy that is giving his whole heart into it, and a team that is giving about 100 percent as well, but the bike is just not performing. Gobert can definitely win on anything that will run decent for him. Now the big question...what teams are going to tolerate Gobert? For him to continue to succeed as easily as he has in the past, he now has to pay a little attention to his relationship with his employer. Let them know as soon as you crash your dirt bike. Go to the races and support your teammates whenever possible, show up at team events, etc., etc. If he keeps his head on straight, he can climb on almost anything with a motor and wheels and blow them into the weeds again!

-- Kevin Wood

Whenever I've had the opportunity to speak to or just be around Anthony, I've come away thinking what a dynamic, enthusiastic guy he is. Yeah, he's a bit of a rebel, but that only adds spice as far as I'm concerned. And when it comes to riding, look at him go!

(two paras of drugs are bad, etc, edited for length)

-- Joe Heitz

Take it from someone who has seen both sides of Anthony, first hand on and off the track, never count him out he only wants to finish in one spot, first.

-- Lance Baker

The last race he won was by virtue of a lucky tire choice. Like John-boy, he can win at some tracks but falls apart (or off!) at others.

-- Russ Panneton

Can the GoShow win on any bike in the paddock? (Perhaps Scott Russell would like to answer that about the VR1000...). I would have to say that if he got on J.K.'s Vance and Hines Ducati, he would be right up front...but on some other machines it may be a bit more of a struggle. He has certainly proven that he is "capable" of winning, even on bikes that are not at the peak of the competitive curve, but he also has struggled in other situations. Given the right conditions, he will be hard to catch, let alone pass. Given the wrong conditions, he could become lap traffic. In any case, it would make for a really interesting race.

-- Don in AL

Gobert is good, no doubt. He can toy around with these guys if he wants like he did at Road Atlanta last season - he was simply at another level. But could he jump on a bike on a Thursday and win on Sunday? No way. He's not..............Eddie Lawson.

-- Joe Bold

I was fortunate enough to be able to race with the AMA factory guys last year at Road Atlanta. Gobert was definitely the smoothest rider I saw on the track that weekend. I've never seen a guy get around a race track that fast while looking like he was going to church. If the guy can skip practice, show up for qualifying and be the fastest guy out there ... No question he could get on any factory superbike and have a chance to win. At Pikes Peak... maybe even the Harley!

-- John Ross #30