Vance and Hines did right in hiring both Gobert and Bostrom for next year's Superbike racing season. You have two winners as teamates! What more can you ask for? Jason is fast and talented but there are only two V&H Ducati seats.
Gobert should quit messing with the wead if he values winning !
 
Terry Vance and Co. will have a very successful ' 99 season ahead of them!
 
Raffy Bichara
http://www.dot.com.ph/raffy
email: bladerunner@vasia.com
 

The situation is analogous to the Clinton mess. It points up the
embarassing hypocrisy between professed morality versus actual practice.
Like President Bill, AG is an elitist who doesn't think that the rules
apply to him. That said, although I can't approve of Goberts' actions
and phony excuses, he does a great job and is a better racer than
Pridmore. I don't think his sponsors will be adversely affected by their
association with him, and he offers a better chance of a title to V&H
Ducati.
David Faber

Gobert sickens me. The fact that he chooses to endanger riders and
the AMA continues to allow him to race furthers the notion that there
are no consequences for action. Obviously, if you are smart or good
enough to get away with it, it wasn't ever "legally" wrong. The current
political situation bears this out, and sends the wrong message!
    Nice guys seem to really finish last lately, and Jason seems like a
pretty good example. Corprate people will have to decide if they want
their rider to present a good image for the company, or just win at all
costs. As for me, I'll never buy another Vance and Hines product, nor
consider a Ducati. (I can afford one by the way.)
JP Carver

If I had a team ,and it was my decision I would have to use my years of
managerial skills and go w/ the very talented "team racer"over the very
talented spontaneous guy,because it quits being a gut feeling and must
be a learned thing that it takes more than just The Guy on the bike.
Morgan Crook

Dean,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
The Go Show started here in Australia the year he absolutely dominated Supercross. The sudden emergence of an outstanding talent was obvious. The next year, he turned his back on this success and tried roadracing in the fiercely competitive 250 Production class and again was immediately the one to beat, winning the series yet again. From there into the big stuff with increasing assuredness and the wins continued to accumulate.
It is so frustrating to see the combination of a superb talent combined with an indifferent intermittent focus on the ultimate goal of world championship title(s). Gobert has stated in print here in OZ that he wants to win the world 500cc championship 3 times. Many people here believe he could achieve this if he found the discipline and motivation to attack his objective with the singleminded intensity you see in a Doohan, Fogarty, or Biaggi. the talent, the skills are on view for everyone to marvel at, but the man can't seem to put it all together long enough or consistently enough to finish the job.
I want to believe it can and will happen one day. I think he can become one of the greats if he can button down to the task.  Meanwhile, as you have seen in the USA this year, he is a very exciting man to watch on a racetrack, and lets hope his talent is given the chance to fully emerge and flower in the long run.
Racing in the states receives limited coverage in our motorcycle press, but I find your site to be a tremendous source to follow the fortunes of Mladin and Gobert (and perhaps Buckmaster and others in the coming season). Thanks for that, your hard work is really appreciated.
Regards,
 
John Cord

Garry Gallagher from EBC Brakes here;
I am pleased that Gobert will get another shot with the V & H team. I hope he will be smart enough to stay off the SHIT !!

I also support the hiring of Ben Bostrom by Vance & Hines! He to is a great rider and HAS the talent and desire to WIN ! I have worked with him in the past and he is also a great rider to sponsor and work with.

As far as Jason Pridmore is concerned, you could not find a better racer, person, OR a representative for your product !!

I speak from experience! Jason has been an EBC Brakes rider long before I started working with EBC Brakes (6 years ago!) That was the old CLASS RACING days when he was teamed with Fritz Kling in AMA 750 Supersport.

For all the time we have sponsored him, he has been one of our best spokesmen, very professional, and a pleasure to work with, and has shown his great talent on and off the track!.

His riding ability speaks for itself, especially with what he has done on the V & H Ducati the last couple of AMA Superbike rounds.

For Jason Pridmore to NOT get an AMA Superbike ride would be a CRIME !!
He has the ability and he has put in his time.

I wish Jason all the successes in the future!

wbr

Garry Gallagher
EBC BRAKES
 

I beleive that Gobert should be with V&H next year. I beleive that the AMA made a mistake in suspending him this year. I don't smoke drugs myself but I don't have problem with him having a little smoke between races. I understand that there was a trace of drugs only. What about the races that drink all night before a race? I don't beleive that there is a test for that!
Kirby Bradley

Here's the way I see it:
Vance and Hines = drug use and irresponsible actions

I'm sure the powers that be have taken this image into account and think
the benefits outweigh the detriment.  In my humble opinion:  I think NOT!

Brian Osborne
WSMC# 77, AFM #717

I agree totally with Vance and support their decision totally. I read some of
the comments and are you out there who condem Gobert saints that never made
mistakes when you were young. Well I don't promote smoking or smoke myself but
who would you rather race against someone who smoked a joint two weeks ago or
a racer who was out all night drinking heavily only hours before. Most of us
know how it is the morning after even a few drinks but that's ok right? He's
got a good head right?
Pridmore over Bostrom all the way, Bostrom has the Jack Villenuve sindrome
when you have the equipment of the year and win and then ask for the world.
Yes he is a great rider but Pridmore would have been the wiser choice he was
already a proven winner on the great Duck.
Don..

So last year Smokin' Joe sponsored Hondas.  Next year, Ducati will again
sponsor Smokin' Tony.  Has Jason opened his negotiations yet with Team Lewinsky-Panatela?
Susan Haas

VHR Ducati probably figures Bostrom can compete for the series
championship and Gobert will be at the top if he's racing.  Worst case,
Yates on the podium, best case Yates & the Go-Show.  Ferracci should
hire Pridmore and Szoake and go for the youth movement.
Scott Still

Gobert is one of the most talented riders in the world. All these uptights
need to get a life. This was Vance and Hines first year with Ducati and I
seriously believe Gobert should get a good chunk of credit for their
success, God knows Thomas Stevens did not impress anyone this year, no
offense. I was at Road Atlanta  for the races and all weekend long I only
met and talked to one rider, Anthony Gobert. Where was everyone else? I
don't know, maybe in Doug Chandlers trailer.Be glad you can still see Goey,
because in a season or two he will move on to bigger and better things or I
hope he discovers Golden Seal....Your page is great keep it up...Jim
James George

Tony Gobert is one of the best shows on the racing scene. So he tokes a bit of weed, dyes his hair a different color every week, and makes the prudish Mr. Vance blush. He's a personality and that is just one of the things the AMA series needs. Besides, if he draws as many fans as he does cops and AMA Morality Marshals, the stands will be full next season.
 
As for the nice Pridmore lad, he will find a good home before the smoke clears. Let's hope it is in America. He should, however, shave-off that new goatee and return to his boyish look.
 
Tim Buck Tooh

I think Jason has proven he can ride with best and deserves a factory ride from V&H. Other teams should not overlook this man. Suzuki should hire him for superbike!!!
 
VFRGUY

Good Day Dean!

I think it should have been Gobert and Pridmore on the team. Iguess
Labrosse done his job for Ben after the Honda fiasco. It is just to bad
for Jason, he surely did showed he was capable o f playing in front of
the field when he is saddled on a fast bike.

I hop ethat he gets the big ride on WSB tour. He desevers it more than
anyone else.

Anne-Marie Friedmann

I know this is supposed to be about Gobert and Pridmore, but I wanted to
ask about Road Atlanta. My money is on Gobert.  I am a licensed WERA Road
Racer and have heard and seen that Road Atlanta site of the WERE GNF in
three weeks is now worse than Loudon.  They have erected walls everywhere
to keep cars from flying off the track.  There is even a wall at the top of
the hill only 4 feet off the track.  I was wondering if an informed group
like yourselves could shed any light on the walls and why they have been
erected.  There may be no AMA races next year because of individuals
designing tracks for cars without regard for motorcycles.  Sounds like the
street doesn't it.

Thanks

Dennis Brown

Should any one be surprised by whats happening here? There is no
accountability anymore, Hell Janet Reno fried 80 people, took full
responsibility and nothing happened.  Clinton shits on the constitution
everyday, says he sorry nothin happens. So is it really any surprise
a little pot head like Gobert gets a free ride. What the hell is the
point of having any rules? seems like everyone justifies there way
around them.
Jason, good luck!   Vance Hines, shame on you!

The ride should be awarded on merit, not because of some puritanical
dogma. Let's not forget that Steve Rapp also led a superbike race his
first time out as well, and he appears to be about to win a championship
untarnished by allegations of equipment irregularities as per
Hypercycle's Jason Pridmore.

David Greenfield

I say Gobert should have gotten the ride.He has proven he can win and isn't
that what racing is about. Pridmore rode the bike well but against a
depleted field.(Gobert and Duhamel out and Chandler still hurt.) Aren't we
forgetting Steve Rapp rode the hell out of the bike too. Why isn't his name
in the discussion too? Like someone said in another letter.."Gobert is a PR
dream"

D Voelzke

Everyone writing in about this Gobert and Pridmore thing seems to
miss the point...
I don't care if he smokes it...
I don't think he could perform like he does unless he did...
As you know I work in close proximity to the action on many an
occasion,
and am risking a lot to do what I do at times at the track
(corner work)...
But the point missed is, now that he has been caught and admitted
to it...
Why the hell is he not sitting in jail somewhere???
Put that in his pipe and smoke it...

Brian Douglas

I think that Pridmore should take over Goberts job because whow knows
Gobert might smoke more dope next season! Pridmore seems to be right at
home on the VHR Ducati I mean look at how his first superbike ride was
he qualified very good and even finished in a good place despite his
little run off of the track.  Petey N.B.

-Personal opinion...Anthony Gobert is a world class rider; Terry Vance
seems to like and understand Anthony, and stuck with him through all the
problems; Gobert was 'railroaded' this year, and deserves another
chance; JP is and unknown quantity, riding the end of the year without
Miguel and Anthony to compete against; Anthony has proven himself
capable of beating a healthy Miguel D. who was on a faster bike; Anthony
gets along well with the V&H team, the public does not know if they do
with Jason; Anthony has a world wide following, V&H has a european (and
may extend to Australia) division; the world is not always a fair place,
Jason should thank Terry Vance for the oportunity; perhaps Jason could
go with FBF, if not I wish him luck--Steve Marusic
 

I'm disappointed that Jason Pridmore didn't get the V&H ride.

Anthony's an exciting rider, but he habitually pisses on his
fans and supporters.  Remember how he blew off Sportbike Night
in San Jose?  Remember the mood at V&H trailer at Laguna?  And
what about all the fans who were counting on him to champion the
AMA SB against the World SB there (we got a demolition derby
instead)?  You could collect plenty of other examples.

Jason is an exciting rider too, and he respects his fans.

For me, the choice is a no-brainer.   If Jason gets an AMA SB
ride I'm going to celebrate each time he beats Anthony.

-Don Draper

#####