Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Anthony Gobert was at the top of the time charts about 3/4 of the way through the Friday Superbike qualifying session at Road Atlanta when he lost the front wheel and crashed in turn three, sliding into sections of Alpina inflatable soft barriers. In videotape of the incident, Gobert can be seen sliding into two joined sections of the inflatable barriers, which pulled apart at the bottom as one section came up off the ground. According to Yamaha’s Tom Halberson, Gobert later said that he tried to rotate his body to avoid going into the Alpina Air Module feet first, but could not get his right leg turned out of the way. His foot and leg hit haybales behind the Air Module. The session was then red-flagged.

The air barriers apparently were installed without the bottom securing ropes specified for installation by the manufacturer. AMA Pro Racing staffers and track workers secured the air modules in the section of racetrack where Gobert hit, which are owned by AMA Pro Racing. An Alpina crew installed Air Modules owned and rented by Alpina to the race promoters, and those Air Modules were seen to be tied down with bottom securing ropes.

Gobert was initially taken to the infield care center and was subsequently transported to a local hospital for X-rays of his lower right leg and ankle. According to an update issued by Road Atlanta, Gobert “was transported to Northeast Georgie Regional Medical Center in Gainesville for X-rays for a ‘likely’ fracture of his right tibia.”

The fastest times when the red flag flew were as follows:

1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:23.674
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:24.067
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:24.408
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:24.465
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:24.684
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:24.976
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.349
8. Doug Chandler, Ducati, 1:25.495
9. Pascal Picotte, Ducati, 1:26.952
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:27.206
11. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:27.329
12. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:27.431
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:27.552
14. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, 1:27.576
15. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, 1:28.113
16. Brian Livengood, Suzuki, 1:28.737
17. Ty Howard, Suzuki, 1:29.071
18. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, 1:29.166
19. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 1:29.245
20. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki, 1:29.282
21. Scott Harwell, Suzuki, 1:29.381
22. Mark Crozier, Suzuki, 1:29.804
23. Christopher Rankin of Texas, Suzuki, 1:29.872
24. Scott Carpenter, Suzuki, 1:30.917
25. Larry Pegram, Suzuki, 1:30.144
26. Doug Duane, Suzuki, 1:30.163
27. Goeff May, Suzuki, 1:30.345
28. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:30.363
29. Chris Rankin of Maryland, Suzuki, 1:30.367
30. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, 1:30.562

Other riders transported from the track to Northeast Georgia Regional Medical Center on Friday include Cory West, who suffered a possible concussion in a crash during 250cc Grand Prix practice, as well as Daniel Smallwood who suffered a broken collarbone and possible shoulder injury after crashing in Formula Xtreme practice.