Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Yamaha factory 600cc Supersport rider Aaron Gobert crashed out of the AMA test at Laguna Seca Tuesday, January 22 when he tucked the front wheel of his Yamaha YZF-R6 on the approach to the Corkscrew.

“I came flying up over the hill coming toward the corkscrew,” said the 21-year-old Aussie on Wednesday. “You put the brakes on full hard there, but I had no grip and the front just tucked. I put the brakes on all the way and nothing happened. It didn’t do any stopping. The data says 212 kilometers per hour (131.7 mph) has been my average speed there so far in the test. So I hit the ground going over 200 kph (124 mph).

“I did just like Doug Chandler when he fell in the World Supers a couple of years ago. I slid right through the gravel trap, across that part on the inside of the corner and back across the track at the bottom. I slid a long way. I never though it would end. I thought for sure I was going to hit a wall or something.

“I hit a water drain with me leg. Either that or the gravel trap twisted me left ankle up. I went to the hospital and got it X-rayed. There’s nothing broken. It’s just sprain, and I may have stretched some ligaments or tendons. I’ll be alright in a week or so I reckon.

“I couldn’t put any weight on it yesterday, but I can put some on it today. There’s also a lot less pain today than there was yesterday. I’ll be ready to go when we test at California Speedway in a couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, as we spoke to Aaron Gobert, Anthony Gobert had lowered his best lap time to a 1:25.550, just a few hundredths off his own Laguna Seca track record of 1:25.507. According to Aaron Gobert, Anthony did his lap time on race tires.